A Change of Plans

I started a monthly women's group here in Austin in October called LOVE - TRUST - LIVE. The actual taglines for the group are "Spread Love. Trust the Universe. Live in the Moment." and the goal is to bring like-minded women together for authentic conversations about living our best lives.

And after only one meeting, the group has already changed my life and my perspective immensely.

We are only hours away from our 2nd meeting, and I am already learning so much about listening to my whisper and what it means to truly trust. My husband and I received horrible news last night about a death in our family, and we are lost to say the least. I leaned on a friend and expressed my worry about tonight's meeting...about trying to "keep it all together" so I could lead a meaningful group session.

And she said to me what I would probably in my right mind say to a friend in the same situation...

"Why are you trying to keep it all together? Fall apart."

The Universe laughed that loving, compassionate laugh, I'm sure, and through Allison, it softly reminded me to listen to my whisper...to be authentic...to stay true to the essence I originally intended for the group.

So I did.

I reached out to everyone coming, asked for love and grace and leaned on trust. Trust that tonight will turn out to be exactly what it's supposed to be. Trust that exactly the right people will show up and we'll have exactly the right conversations we all need. Trust that this change of plans was probably the Universe's real plan all along.

In the Tao, Lao-Tzu speaks about life as being related to flexibility and pliability, like blades of grass that lovingly bow under the pressure of your foot only to spring back erect and supple. He likens death to rigidity and inflexibility, like winter's dead tree limbs that easily snap at the slightest touch.

We are meant to consort with life...to be flexible and pliable...to bend and stretch...and to willingly find new perspective.

And that is the lesson I am learning through my role in LOVE - TRUST - LIVE. I'm learning to be flexible with myself, to trust that others will bend with me, and to embrace the new perspective that results. And for that I am so infinitely grateful.