Tag: colby hall
New Opportunities
I could have titled this post “Be Careful What You Wish For,” but as you will see, I think “New Opportunities” is more fitting. It all started with the HGTV Dream Home giveaway a few years ago. If you aren’t familiar with this particular giveaway, it’s where HGTV selects a parcel of land in a town and builds what they consider to be a dream home. They, along with their partners, take care of everything from building the home to decorating it. They even include a car (the model varies depending on the partner donating it) and a fairly hefty amount of cash, which presumably is needed in order to afford the taxes and insurance unless you yourself are also flush with cash and can afford to have fun instead with the HGTV monies. But I digress…
That particular year HGTV selected a parcel of land in my town. To say that I was excited is an understatement. I researched the site – which was no easy feat since the location was brand new and hadn’t been included on any maps yet – drove past the area, followed the building process online through their photo montage, and sent lots and lots of energy out into the universe for that to become my new home. I faithfully entered the contest every day, and when I came across a special occasion card with a flashily written “Congratulations On Your New Home” on the front of it, I thought it was serendipity. I purchased the card and set it on a table by my front door where I would be sure to see it every day. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a visual reminder too!!!
Perhaps by now you see where this is going… As it turns out, I did not win the dream home. I, along with millions of other entrants, was crushed. I thought that for sure since I lived in the area and had sent out so much positive energy surrounding this house, that the universe should help me win it. Apparently the universe had other plans.
I largely forgot about the “New Home” card. It remained on my table by the front door. Every once in a while I would glance at it when I walked out the door, or when I was sitting in my living room. I’m not sure that I thought anything about it really other than the fact that it didn’t hurt to leave it there because I couldn’t figure out where else to put it. As it turns out, this bright and happy card has continued to work on my subconscious and on the energy I have sent out to the universe, for a little while ago I found out that my residence is being sold and that I would need to move.
I’ll be honest and tell you that this has been a struggle for me. I am going from a place where I lived for almost 14 years and has ample room, to one that is approximately 1/3 the size. As you might imagine, in almost 14 years I have managed to accumulate a significant amount of “stuff.“ As you might also imagine, having to go through said “stuff“ and determine which things will fit in the new residence and which other things will need to be either sold or donated, is a daunting task. It is not one I have been happy about doing. Nevertheless, bit by bit I’ve been addressing these issues and getting it done. I’m by no means anywhere close to being finished, but I do see the positive side of this move. True, it was not what I had wanted originally, and it is not what I would’ve chosen on my own necessarily, but it does have its benefits and is, I’m sure, exactly what I needed. I’ve come to realize that I needed a complete paradigm shift and that this was the best way to achieve it. It has forced me to take a deep hard look at my possessions and at myself, and to determine what no longer works for me. In short, although it didn’t seem like it at first, I have been given a gift. I have an opportunity to represent myself; myself as I now am and who I want to be instead of the person I once was. I have to say that it feels great. There still some bumps in the road and a lot of work ahead, but I feel positive about the experience now and grateful for it. So, although I didn’t get what I originally wanted, the universe was listening and I did ultimately get what I needed in order to move forward. And I have to say that as far as moving goes, this one has fallen into place fairly well. So my advice to you is this: The next time you encounter something unexpected or unwanted in your life try to see what gifts it might also bring with it. I realize that not every situation has a bright side to it, but many do if we are only open to the message. I heard mine loud and clear. May the same also happen for you!
Colby Hall
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
Setting the Tone for 2018 (and Guidance)
At the beginning of 2017, I selected a word that would set the tone for my upcoming year. It took only seconds for me to determine what my word was going to be. My word turned out to be guidance. (And no, the fact that I was guided to use the word guidance was not lost on me!)
What does guidance really mean? Certainly, it could be information received from those who care about you, those who seek to control you, or just a random person on the street. But to me guidance is the internal knowing that always seeks to steer you in the correct direction. Sometimes it is loud and glaring like a flashing neon sign, but at other times it is extremely subtle. In fact, in my experience, the subtle type is much more common.
Following your guidance isn’t always easy to do. For one thing, the subtle nudges we receive are easy to overlook or misinterpret. Or perhaps they seem inconsequential. (Tell me again – why do I need to buy this type of deodorant versus my normal brand?) And while the world might not end if you don’t buy the correct deodorant, following your guidance on a regular basis makes it easier for you to understand what you are being told or shown on future occasions, and it may help you when interpreting the guidance you receive later on with things that really do matter to you.
As we enter into the start of a new year, I encourage you to listen to your guidance and to follow it in all of the small ways and in all of the large ways – and everything in between – as much as you can. Each time you feel the tug, or a glimmer, or a gut feeling about something, even if it is about what brand of deodorant to buy, follow it and see where it leads. There have been many times when I’ve not known why I felt I should do something or say something, but I tended to be very pleasantly surprised by the results later on. That’s not to say that the results are always immediately apparent. Sometimes they aren’t. But by continuing to follow your guidance you will strengthen that bond so that you can recognize guidance when it happens, be open to receive even more of it in your life, and live more authentically.
I would love to hear if others have selected a word for the year, and to hear your experiences. What does your word mean to you? How do you believe it will show up in your life, or how has it already shown up in your life? Is it an active word requiring you to do something, or is it passive and you are to observe and watch and see what happens? I’m curious to see your results! Feel free to comment on this post and let me know. In the meantime, have fun, follow your guidance, and make 2018 the best year it can be. Something tells me you can do it!
Colby Hall
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
Seeing the Miracles in Disappointment
Rue in bloom.
Sometimes in life – heck, a lot of times in life! – we get frustrated with the way things are going. We have it in our minds that life should be one way, and instead, life looks anything but that vision at our present moment in time. “What have I done wrong?” we wail at the Universe. “I’m a good person, why aren’t things working out like I expect them to?” If you’re like me, most of the times there is no answer. I’ll try to console myself with the sayings “Everything happens for reason,” and “Things happen in Divine timing,” but in truth I’m just frustrated and feeling forsaken and unloved.
I usually wind up turning the situation around, swallowing my disappointments and trying to ignore the hollowness and ache of unworthiness deep inside me until I can be grateful for what I do have. Typically, this involves a healthy dose of nature. Nothing turns my mood around faster than observing all of the miracles around me every day in the form of the plants, insects, and creatures roaming this Earth!
Those who know me know that I raise butterflies. It started out as a love for tabouli and a desire to make my own. I dutifully set out a few parsley plants and waited for them to grow. They did indeed grow. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed parsley! One day, I came out to find my parsley plants covered in caterpillars. At first, I wasn’t too happy with this outcome. But, after doing some research, I determined that the caterpillars were those of the Black Swallowtail butterfly and I felt honored to provide them with a source of food. From that point on, I kept parsley plants for the butterflies so that they could leave their eggs and start the cycle anew each year.
Each summer I would eagerly await the arrival of my butterflies and their eggs. I planted more plants they enjoyed such as rue, dill, and fennel in addition to the parsley, and filled my garden with rich nectar sources. When the baby caterpillars emerged, I would bring them inside and feed and care for them until they made their chrysalises. Those that emerged from the chrysalis during the season were released back into the world, and those that decided they wanted to wait until next year to see the world overwintered inside my house so as to protect them from predators and the cold weather.
This had been an annual cycle for me for several years until 2016. I waited and waited all summer long in 2016, but no caterpillars appeared. To say I was crushed is putting it mildly. I was heartbroken. The fact that several other people I knew found caterpillars when they hadn’t ever had any before seemed like salt in the wound. As pleased as I was for them, I felt my own lack of caterpillars keenly. One person asked me to “adopt” some almost full grown caterpillars late in the season that then overwintered with me. It helped to ease the ache, nevertheless I was still very sad over not having any of my own to raise and care for.
Fast forward to now, Spring 2017. In an unusual twist, I found five baby caterpillars on my rue recently. This is highly unusual since in years past I haven’t had caterpillars until the late summer. My heart was filled with joy! I hadn’t been forsaken after all! It seemed the Universe did still want me to take care of and protect these tiny members of the natural world. Once I’d come down from my euphoric state, it occurred to me that there must have been a reason that I hadn’t had any caterpillars to raise in 2016. Almost as soon as I had formed that thought, the answer came to me. In 2016 I’d been helping a friend through a really tough time, one that required lots of nurturing and support in addition to all of my normal hectic daily routines. With that realization, my whole perspective changed. I’m still sad that I didn’t have my own caterpillars to raise that year, but I’m grateful that I was given the time to focus on nurturing someone else who greatly needed it. Plus, I was still provided with some of my little ones to adopt at a stage in their lives when they wouldn’t require much from me. Truly, it was the best way the whole situation could have unfolded, even if I didn’t realize it at the time.
As a result of this little life lesson, the next time something doesn’t turn out the way I had hoped, I plan to stop and take a moment to thank the Universe for whatever else is in store for me in the future that might not have happened if I had gotten whatever it was that I had been hoping for. Because I’m sure that whatever it is will be just what is needed.
Colby Hall
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
Simple Acts of Spreading Kindness
#RandomTextsofKindness
Note: This was written by Colby Hall, Trinity Energy Progression Instructor, the day after the U.S. Presidential elections, Nov ’16… and being posted in mid-December, with the political landscape just as chaotic… and during the end-of-year holiday season, providing stress for many this year; so of course, perfect!)
I had intentionally put off writing this blog until after the election, figuring that I would have lots to write about once the election was over. But as I was in the shower on Election Day, inspiration struck (as it does so often when I’m in the shower), and I knew I had to write.
There’s something wonderful about a shower. I think it’s the perfect combination of the sound of the rushing water, the white noise from the exhaust fan, and the warmth that the water against your skin provides. Whatever it is, I find that in the shower I often go into a place of stillness and calm where my thoughts flow as easily as the water. So what was the thought today that led to this blog post? It was that I should text my mother and tell her I loved her. It was as simple as that. I thought about how that simple text would make her feel special and cared about, and how I hoped it would warm her up all the way down to her toes. It’s no small thing on my part either; I tend to find love difficult to express and therefore don’t express it nearly enough.
This idea blossomed into another – as my ideas tend to do when I’m in the shower – and I wondered what it would be like if even a small percentage of the population sent a random text to someone they cared about to let them know. It could be something as simple as “Hope you have a great day” or “Thinking of you.” It doesn’t even have to be words. I received a virtual bouquet of flowers from a friend of mine the other day who used a lot of different flower Emoji’s and sent the “bouquet” to me in a text. Think of how special the recipients of these texts would feel, and then how that might change the way they approached everyone else they encountered in their day. By one simple, small act, many lives could be changed.
I choose to perpetuate happiness as much as I can, to generate it within myself, and to do what I can for others to find it. I hope that you will join me in this endeavor. Although I am not a big Twitter user, I would love to see this go viral and for lots and lots of people to send a random text of caring to another as often as they feel inspired to do so. We’ve all heard of random acts of kindness, so I thought I would call this #RandomTextsOfKindness. If even a few lives are brightened, it will be well worth the effort.
Colby Hall
Trinity Energy Progression Instructor/Practitioner
Trust…and Breathe
Today has been a mixed bag. I have a tightly scheduled life at the moment, and today things haven’t quite gone the way I had needed – and expected – them to go. The biggest issue was computer related and completely out of my control. A computer program hosted by my work – isn’t working! When this happens, I at once feel angry and heated and frustrated and stressed. Yes, all of those things at once. It throws off my whole schedule, you see. If I’m not able to work during these hours, I don’t know how I’ll be able to get all of my other commitments done. I’m limited both by the set hours that I am actually able to work on the other commitments and by the number of hours in a day. Not to mention my own needs such as sleep and retaining my sanity. So this morning I let my emotions well up and I indulged in them for a few minutes. Then, I stopped.
I took a breath.
I reminded myself that these types of issues have arisen in the past, and I’ve dealt with them. The world hasn’t ended.
In the past, when I’ve accepted what has happened and trusted that it will all work out, it has. I’m sure it will again this time. When you truly surrender your worries and trust that it will all work out, the Universe has a miraculous way of making that happen. I’ve given up trying to know how it will all work out, or planning what I can shift around to “make” it all fit into my week. I’ve stopped having that panicky feeling and tightness of chest; instead, I am grateful for the day and the unexpected break it has given me. I could certainly choose to feel all of those unpleasant feelings again and worry and fret over the situation, but I would rather choose the peace and calm of not knowing how it will all work out and yet trusting that it will. Now I have time to do some things that I didn’t think I would be able to do this week, such as read a book I’ve been wanting to read! I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my cat, feeding nuts to the squirrels, and watching the baby birds hop around my patio. I would have missed all that if I had spent my time worrying and fretting.
So if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, stop and take a breath. Become still and go within. Allow yourself to completely surrender your worries, fears, and anything else that comes up for you. Trust that everything will work out. Understand that you may not know how this will happen, but that you don’t need to know. When you’ve reached the point that you completely trust that things will be okay, go enjoy the rest of your day with the knowledge that it is being taken care of for you.
As for me, my computer program still isn’t working, so I’m going to go plant some flowers and be happy. It will all work out fine. Thank you, Universe!
Colby Hall
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
D5 Creation