I just returned from another extraordinary retreat experience on a desolate beach in Mexico, just south of Todos Santos on the southern tip of Baja. There had been huge rainfall two weeks before we arrived, and I have never seen this part of Mexico, usually dry and desert-like, so alive with green and flowers and wildlife. Mother Nature was quite literally going off!
Every morning we were greeted by a highway of yellow butterflies making their way up the coast, while whales danced beyond the break of waves. The vast beauty of nature was there in full color to remind us of the beauty of the world, despite man’s often awful intervention.
During a quiet early morning of reflection on my patio, I was taking in the majesty of the moment, my senses overloaded by the colors, the wildlife, the sound of crashing waves - it was impossible not to feel overwhelmed by beauty and gratitude.
The bigness of IT ALL was humbling.
And along came a gnat.
A singular, teeny, very persistent, very in-my-face gnat.
Immediately, I was annoyed, swatting away at the little guy. Quite instantly, the awe and gratitude that just moments before felt undeniable, dissipated.
Fortunately, because of years of practice and a commitment to self awareness, I quickly checked myself, amused how easily I became distracted by this teeny, tiny, harmless little bug.
“Way to take me down a notch, little gnat. Go you!”
And so the gnat became the teacher. Kind of like the old adage that if you ever feel too small to make a difference, remember what sleeping in a tent with a mosquito feels like.
The extraordinary collage of folks who came on this retreat care deeply about the state of the world. About justice and fairness. They also know that they cannot serve from an empty cup or be leaders in their communities or families if their nervous systems are jacked or if they are depleted.
We also remembered that we absolutely must embrace awe and joy while we also hold grief or despair.
We must.
So we filled our cups and came home to Ourselves, remembering our true nature is love.
Always love.
And when the world seems so upside down or hopeless, borrow my sweet sage gnat to remember that each of us can make a difference, no matter how small. So get in the face of injustice if called to do so, and know that you are mighty.
Love you.
Jocelyn