Sleep resolution

It is almost midnight. Soft breeze tickles my hair. I gaze at the mountainous horizon. Orion's belt shines brightly. I wonder how many millions, billions of people like me, are staring at the beauty of this vast, mysterious sky.

In this moment, at the edge of a new year, one hope unites us all. A hope for the new year to ease down the pandemic and the restrictions of movement.

As soon as it hit us, we were all drifted off shore into unfamiliar waters, we were forced to change our everyday routines, adapt to new ways of life, stop rushing, rethink our values, our paths, habits.

With sadness we saw people succumb to this devastating illness.

In such turbulent times, these uplifting and inspiring lines of poetry, in the form of a Navajo prayer, pop into my head.

“In beauty I walk

With beauty before me I walk

With beauty behind me I walk

With beauty above me I walk

With beauty around me I walk.''

Every new year I say to myself to live by those words, and to unlearn bad habits, be free, have no fears, no stresses, and just enjoy the ride to its fullest. But as the year progresses, I usually stumble into the same old patterns that I am trying to break free from. These two years of pandemic gave me time to slow down and listen to my body, my heart. Instead of rushing, working two or three jobs at the same time, worrying, being concerned about those close to me and forgetting my own needs, I just stopped. Stopped and listened.

And then, suddenly, it all shifted.

These years of limited movement gave me time. Time to look at where my life is headed, get me out of the routine, help me break off from my old habits and patterns - so I could see more light, beauty and cherish the moments that are given to us on this earth.

Somehow, most of us tend to give in into things that bring us down more than treasuring and following what lifts us up.

When we find balance and choose to pay attention to the positive aspects of life, suddenly we see the beauty that surrounds us, instantly we feel lighter in knowing that everything is temporary, good things will pass, bad things will pass.. Life will pass... So we ask ourselves... How do we want to live our life? In the midst of all the stress and constant troubles that I had, one day I asked myself this very question. How do I want to live my life? Do I want to waste my time over never ending worries that keep weakening my health, or do I want to just stop and start everything over by shifting my own perspective, breaking out of the vicious cycles, and focusing on good things.

Life, it has so many colors - it's good, it's bad, it's sad, it's full of regrets, losses, break-ups, heartbreaks, all of it. Sometimes it hits us so hard that we are not sure if we will have enough strength to get back up again. But if we center on beauty, we will find it everywhere. Even in darkness there is beauty, as in light.

Bad things might turn into good ones, as it's usually times of hardship that move us forward, give us a push to break out of our comfort zone and enable us to follow our most precious dreams. It is immensely fulfilling to slowly start moving towards the things you aim for, the things that inspire you, the things that keep the fire of life flaring.

Be your own warrior. Warrior of life. Never let anyone take your inner spark away. Rise and fly into beautiful boundless skies. Be brave and strong and face life. Embrace it.

Relax and enjoy, make the most out of the current situation(s). Paint more, write more, sleep more, eat more, work out more, do whatever makes you happy. Slow down, take a break and take a leap. As this year is your year, my year and everyone's new year to start everything anew. Take a leap... Enjoy!