Embracing Slow and Steady: A Journey of Trust and Resilience
I know some of you don’t like snails, because they play havoc in your beloved garden. But for me they have a special place in my heart. Whether it has been as a kid, having them do races against each other or now as an adult. Personally I view them as messengers to take things slowly and steadily.
While sitting in the Portuguese sun, listening to the birds, the breeze and insects I decided to concentrate exactly on ‘slow and steady’ for 2025.
You know the saying:
‘Slow and steady wins the race.’
Hopefully I will be able to gently remind myself, when either I or others put pressure on me, because either I or they think, I am taking too much time. That I am moving not fast enough. To tell you the truth, I am not really interested in being part of the ‘hustle and bustle’ game the rest of the world seems to be engaged in.
For one it doesn’t boat well with who I am as a person, while it’s also absolutely counterproductive when being on a healing recovery path from stress induced chronic health conditions.
This is why I will say firmly no to any kind of unnecessary pressure and I will remind myself, that I can take the time I need, that there’s no rush.
I don’t have to hit a 1000 subscribers by a certain date, I don’t have to be healed by a certain timeline, I don’t have to have a massive break through with my creative business by end of 2025, I don’t have to all of a sudden be this self realised person, transformed.
My flaws as well as imperfections are allowed to come along on the path and be part of me as everything else, I will slowly but steadily find the next step towards the things which matter to me:
Inspiring others to use their creativity for self expression and come alive more
Finding meaningful connection as well as healthy love
And now that I have told you about my intentions for 2025, let me share some of my highlights as well as lowlights of 2024. For a full picture, the whole palette, we need to look at all of it.
My highlights were:
Finding a wonderful studio in exactly the area I wanted to be in, affordable, safe and long term. I am really feeling blessed and my creativity is thriving since I came here. My landlady is straight forward, fun and I couldn’t have asked for a better person. Of course she’s pisces like me, that must explain it, lol. I can’t believe that I am nearly living a year here already.
My spontaneous trip to Ireland, thanks to Peter, who visited me and suggested to fly back with him. It was wonderful to reconnect with my Irish friends, join my choir and the yoga class again. The most important realisation was, that I still have a deep love for this country and its people, independent of all the challenges I faced in the past. Ireland always will have a very special place in my heart and soul.
My dear friend Cindy, who managed to recover completely from ME, she was bed bound, offering to help and support me in my recovery. Thanks to her I found new hope to once more undertake active steps towards healing long-lasting, challenging chronic health issues. She has supported me on a weekly basis for half a year, just out of the kindness of her heart. It hasn’t been and isn’t easy, but I know what I am doing and what direction I am aiming for. Without her kindness and encouragement I would feel much more down and desperate right now.
Another real blessing has been my creativity, which feels like it’s unfolding more and more. I loved the projects I have been and still am engaged in. My ‘Dance Reels’ as well as ‘Not Too Nice Anger Series’, which have given my buried performer part an opportunity to finally come alive again. I also really enjoyed, making some of my drawings come alive through little interspersed performance pieces, thrown in between the photos of the drawings.
My lowlights were:
New, scary symptoms which accompanied me throughout the year, on top of the ones I already had. At times increasing my anxiety as well as isolating me more. Not feeling like I could engage a lot with life at times. Leading to quite a bit of additional loneliness.
Feeling isolated and lonely especially during summer, partly due to what I just mentioned above.
Oh and I forgot, I found a car, thanks to James, who sold it to me and thanks to Michael, who knew James. It’s a Honda Jazz and is wonderful. So, that was a blessing for sure as well. In comparison to the year before, I have the feeling I was lucky to have quite a few more meaningful blessings, which I am very grateful for.
If you would like to share your personal low - and highlights with me, I would love to hear them. As well as what motto you have, walking bravely into 2025.