Leave Room for the Unexpected

September was a tough month for me.  I felt stretched and exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically. The semester was in full swing and so was every other aspect of my life. But then October arrived! And like a sweet kiss and a full embrace, newness arrived. On or around October 1st, my life shifted. Fall stepped in with such sweetness, such warmth, such kindness, such love. October became my shifting point. 

And let me add that I almost missed this “opportunity.” I had specific things in mind that I needed. I had a set idea of what these things would look like. And I was expecting them to come from a familiar place. None of the above applied! NONE! Somewhere unexpected, unfamiliar, and overlooked became my resting place … my safe space. I wanted a place to rest. I wanted more laughter and happiness. I wanted to experience a deeper level of joy. October and all of its goodness brought this and more. 

My message for this month is simple: leave room for the unexpected. I imagine this requires getting super clear about what it is we need and being open to being challenged in our notions of what this may look like. For much of the year, I thought I needed one thing – and did all I could to get it – and realized my heart longed for something completely different. Then, get out of the way and allow the most beautiful and fulfilling version of this thing to show up in your life. AND do this in ways that allow the thing to EXCEED your expectations. 

Fall is in the air. Don’t give up on 2021. Remain focused. And leave room for the unexpected.