The Beauty in the Process of Becoming

Maya Angelou said, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” In the early days of elementary school, I was taught of the metamorphosis of a butterfly. I distinctly remember growing caterpillars and harvesting their cocoons in a tree nearby my childhood classroom. The week that we learned about the process in which a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly is still so evident in my mind. Every day, I would await the next school day, looking forward and counting down the days until the cocoons hatched and the butterflies emerged. Still, in literature and film, the metamorphosis of a butterfly is used to symbolize a spiritual or physical period of growth in which we expect a certain personal transformation. But, in these periods of growth, in our own personal metamorphosis, we often focus on the result of becoming a radiant butterfly, tending to overlook the changes we undergo that shape the intrinsic beauty of our wings. In making our new year’s resolutions, by which we may or may not have stuck to, we looked forward to the possibility of a new year. We thought of everything we wanted to achieve and of all the possibilities we thought we could be. We thought of all we had yet to do, those items on our bucket list left unchecked, all the places we have yet to see, and all our dreams we have yet to reach. We formed resolutions and goals, in part, based off what we have not yet accomplished. Alternatively, we formed resolutions based off all that we dreamt of achieving. As the excitement of a new year swiftly approached us, we were thinking of the result even long before the beginning of the year was upon us. We were thinking of the beautiful butterflies we would become before even making our cocoons. We were waiting to show off our beautiful wings and to explore the height that those wings would take us even while we were still caterpillars. While we have such adventure to look forward to in this next year, we must remember the inspiration in the every day. It is more than okay to be excited about the result, about the possibilities, and about the promise held within a new year, but it is important not to let our excitement about the result hamper our acceptance of present circumstances. We must be mindful in our present happenings so that we are able to be joyful in all circumstances. At times, we may find it difficult to be joyful in the midst of the calamity and the change. No doubt, we will face challenges, disappointment, discouragement, and failure, but we must acknowledge that those moments, even in their ugliness, play an important role in shaping our beauty. It is through those ugly, unpredictable moments, those times we wish not to remember and try vigorously to erase, that our beauty is more distinguished. It is for the beauty of becoming, that we must rejoice in the present. We must then find inspiration in the process of developing our wings. We must discover those sources of inspiration, seek out the people that encourage us and lift us up, visit those places that enlighten the truth and peace in our hearts, and invest in those moments that invigorate and revive us. For, it is in the midst of those moments that inspire us that those moments that have discouraged, disheartened, or challenged us become all the more worthwhile. When we focus on the present moments and how they are shaping and developing the wings by which we will soar, we will learn to value and rejoice in any moment, good or bad, invigorating or heartbreaking. We will come to value all these moments as the result of the intricacies that make our wings so distinct and unique for the purpose of our flight. We will come to love each moment and experience as they, without a doubt, aid our flight and amount to the joy in reaching our destination. But even more than that, we will come to love each moment and experience as they add inherent worth to our journey of becoming the people we are meant to be. Throughout the course of this month, we have discovered how reflection, rest, rediscovery, and revival will influence all the promise of this year. By remembering how years past have shaped us, by resting in what the present has to offer us, by learning to dream again, and by inspiring ourselves to courageously go forth in the direction of our dreams, we will learn to love not only the people we are becoming, but the process that we use in order to get there. We will then find beauty not only in the result of becoming all we have imagined to be and achieving that which is beyond our wildest dreams, but also in the process of becoming and achieving everything of our hearts desire. Let us now allow 2016 to become a collectivity of the moments in which we find inherent worth and dignity, that allow the beauty and intricacy of our wings to shine brighter than they ever could. With those wings, which we have grown and developed, let us soar to new heights and uncover unmapped destinations, so that we may be able to offer every unique part of ourselves in order to make our mark on this vastly beautiful world. As we continue into 2016, let us bravely spread our wings and soar. 

Embracing Your Dance

In the movie Invictus, the highly acclaimed New Zealand All Blacks rugby team performed the haka before facing off against the South African Springboks. South Africa’s team, uniting under the leadership of Nelson Mandela in his first term as president, symbolized the unity of a nation battling the systematic regime and institutional oppression of an apartheid era. The Springboks came to defeat the All Blacks in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, cementing the team’s fight as one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Before the match, the film portrays a cultural warrior dance from the All Blacks. The haka, as performed by the rugby team, “is a type of ancient Māori war dance traditionally used on the battlefield, as well as when groups came together in peace. Haka are a fierce display of a tribe's pride, strength and unity … Today, haka are still used during Māori ceremonies and celebrations to honour guests and show the importance of the occasion. They are also used to challenge opponents on the sports field.” Gaining recent widespread media attention, the haka was seen as a beautiful depiction of love, support, and loyalty when groomsmen, bridesmaids, and other family members and loved ones dedicated the symbolic dance to a couple on their wedding day. With these various illustrations of the haka in film and in the media, the war dance has become known as a custom of revival, preparing its members for anything from battle, to coming together in peace, to displaying a spirit of unity, strength, and pride. Though many of us may not perform a haka routine in the early moments of our mornings, as we prepare to take on the day, the illustration of the haka and its meaning is something that we can learn from. Throughout this month, we have been preparing our hearts for taking on this new year with courage, dignity, strength, bravery, and intention. We have learned to reflect on past years, as they have molded us into the people we are today. We have learned to find periods of rest, in creating habitual patterns of rest and reflection so that we can strengthen our minds, form courageous intentions, and prepare for present moments of opportunity. Just last week, we learned to allot space for our imaginations to roam free and for our dreams to trespass any barriers we have set or seen set before them. We learned to trust our strength, to grow our courage, and to invest in our imaginations, as they give forth to the fruition of our wildest dreams. This week, then, as we conclude this series, we will see the growth in our reflection, rest, and rediscovery unite in our revival. Creating spaces every day where we revive our spirits, stimulate our minds, and inspire habitual dreaming, is essential in order to see the fruits of our efforts, ambitions, and adventures in this year ahead. Experiencing revival may look different for each of us. In fact, here are many ways to practice the intention of reviving our minds, spirits, and dreams. One way is by journaling. Taking time to set intentions for the day, week, or month will enable you to remember those intentions throughout the day and will encourage you to work towards achieving them. You may notice opportunities that you would not have noticed otherwise, or you may seek out people or make plans that will further your ambitions. Another way to revive your spirit and to stimulate the reimagination of your dreams is by surrounding yourself with people who will challenge you to relentlessly pursue your dreams and who will encourage, strengthen, and inspire you to become the best version of yourself in order to fortify the reality of your dreams. The people you surround yourself, then, become an inviolable force in the pursuit of your dreams and in taking on every triumph, trial, and adventure that this new year has to offer you. Still, another way to revive your inspiration and intent for this new year is to strive to become the very inspiration that you are seeking. If you are looking for inspiration in changing your community, you may look for ways to offer your talents, expertise, and passions to the development of your community. If you aspire to grow in your career, you may open your eyes to new opportunities, reinforce your spirit in acting outside of your comfort zone, and define your resilience and persistence in facing fear and overcoming defeat. If you desire a change of course, a difference of behavior or habit, or deeper personal growth, you may instigate small but defining changes in your courses of action. You may challenge yourself to adhere to the promises you have made to yourself, accepting moments of failure, but pressing on in the face of defeat. You may learn to trust yourself and to find confidence in your strength, allowing yourself to achieve what you might have otherwise thought was impossible to achieve. In any way that you decide to revive your spirit, the action starts with you. You must make take the first step in relentlessly and fearlessly pursuing your dreams and obtaining your ambitions for this next year. In finding the inspiration to chase after your dreams and obtain your ambitions, be inspired by yourself. Let this next year tell a story of unexpected adventure and success. Rather than giving up at the first sign of defeat, accept the imperfection of your journey and encourage yourself to continue on the road of achieving your goals, of reimagining your dreams, and of refining your purpose. Believe in yourself, give your story leeway to ebb and flow to unexpected and unforeseen circumstances, and, always, go boldly in the direction of your heart by the light of your dreams.

The Dreamer’s Dream

“Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can work to change a small portion of the events, and then the total- all of these acts- will be written in the history of this generation. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a [wo]man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, [s]he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” - Robert F. KennedyOne of my most memorable moments while studying abroad in South Africa was standing atop of Elsie’s Peak in Fish Hoek, a city just south of central Cape Town. Two of my roommates and I had taken the train down to its end in Simon’s Town where we hiked around, explored some more, stayed in a hostel, and then traveled back north to our home. On our way back, we stopped in Fish Hoek, which after having had read about, we wanted to wander about. We looked up some suggested hikes, found Elsie’s Peak, grabbed our backpacks holding all our essentials for the weekend, and ventured up the peak without a map in hand or any idea of where this trail would lead us. To our surprise, it lead us amid the most beautiful scenery- my roommate Matt even found a rock that resembled Pride Rock from the Lion King, upon which he cradled his backpack in the same way that Mufasa cradled baby Simba. We continued through untouched greenery, majestic rocks, exotic flowers, and eventually found ourselves atop of the mountain. We continued to what we could see was the mountain’s edge to behold a perfect panorama of the Western Cape and the sprawling bay, spilling out into the vast ocean that seemed to go on for an infinity’s end. We were amazed and struck with wonder as we beheld the most beautiful and peaceful picture of nature that we had seen before. My heart was full as I was captivated in a moment’s time with the beauty of the world before me. To this day, that moment stands in time as the single moment that took my breath away and allowed my dreams to roam free. That is when my mind and soul felt the most free they had ever been to dream, to wander, and travel beyond my vision of the ocean’s end. Throughout this series in which we prepare our hearts and minds to grasp the vast opportunity that this new year awaits to give us, we have explored what it means to reflect on what these past years have taught us and to rest in what the present moments have to offer us. This week, we are venturing in what it means to dream again, to envision what we can offer this world, and to rediscover our purpose, influence, and inspiration. By reflecting on how we have grown and what we have learned through past experiences, struggles, lessons, triumphs, and rewards, we will be enlightened to discover our passions and rediscover the deepest desires and dreams of our hearts. Similarly, by resting in what these present moments have to offer us, and what they are preparing for us, we will be empowered to use our strength, talents, passions, and beliefs to pursue our dreams beyond what we could imagine of their fullest potential. When we realize the inherent value of our worth and the undeniable power in who we have come to be, we will believe that we are not only able to pursue our dreams, but to see those dreams become reality. In that moment that we enable ourselves to rediscover our dreams, we will be able to envision things for not only our own futures, but for the future of the world- dreams untouched by any precedent before us, and dreams so unique to our own character that we become the distinct driving force behind them. Once we believe in this power of ours, we will begin to take the steps to assure that we are constantly re-envisioning and rediscovering dreams for ourselves and for the vast world beyond us. For me, that experience on that mountaintop stands as the pillar of my imagination and of the basin that holds my wildest dreams and my purest hopes for the world. But, I am not limited to flying halfway across the world just to experience that mountaintop revelation. Rather, I am able to access that same emotion, that same moment that took my breath away, and that same powerful essence that freed my heart and mind to travel to the ocean’s end at any moment of any day. I can access that revelation that freed my dreams beyond the confines of my own doubt because I had experienced it before. The same goes for any of us. The truth is, each of us have had empowering and captivating moments, and because we have once experienced them before, we can draw up those invigorating experiences, that breath of life, that unparalleled inspiration in order to activate ordinary moments of inspiration. There are moments awaiting us each day with which we can become inspired and empowered to live out our dreams and our purpose. We must only be aware and open to looking for them in rather unexpected places. We must be intentional in alloting ourselves time to daily rediscover our dreams and remember our purpose and influence. For some of us, that may be surrounding ourselves with friends that share our ideals, our dreams, and empower us to affect change throughout the world. For others of us, that may be finding time in solitude, amid the world’s rawest and most beautiful natural wonders. Still, for some of us, that may be embarking on adventures, placing ourselves in unfamiliar territories, in unchartered waters, and resting upon the faith of our strength. Every day, we have moments to re-envision our purpose and influence and to rediscover our dreams. We must only allow those moments to be revealed, actively seek out those moments, and remind ourselves of prior experiences in which we have stood in awe to the freeing of our own imagination. In this next year, it is my hope that these moments are not just found in single life-changing experiences, but in the ordinary, almost mundane instances of our every-day lives. I hope that this rediscovery, this breath of invigorating life, becomes our normal, our habit. As we stand at the threshold of this new year, I hope we learn to rediscover our dreams throughout our weekly dispositions, our morning routines, our workday grind, and our nighttime slumbers, when we free our imaginations to dream all over again.

I Have A Few Dreams

I say to you today, my friends, though, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

...I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low. The rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day honoring the great man whose resilience for equality forever impacted this nation. Most of us enjoyed the day off, where we got to catch up on errands, cherish time with our kids or loved ones, and extend a weekend’s rest, even if just for a day. But this day symbolizes more than just a break from the business of life’s demands; it reminds us of a man who dedicated his whole life and gave of his whole spirit to fight for something he believed in, for something he thought was an absolute right, for something that would be esteemed and continuously defended for generations to come. Martin Luther King’s I Have A Dream speech, delivered on August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., is one of the most viscerally raw, truthful, and poignant speeches of our time. Here, he outlines his dream for America; a dream that was situated between pillars of oppression and adversity. But against all opposition, Martin Luther King embodied resilience in achieving his dream of equality and freedom and of establishing a home that rests on these principles for future generations. In fact, his resilience, bravery, and courage are what we celebrate and revere on the third or fourth Monday of every January for years to come. More than just esteeming Martin Luther King’s spirit of resilience driven by the pursuit of truth, justice, and freedom, we can seek inspiration from the pursuit of his dreams in the pursuit of our own. You see, the spirit of Martin Luther King is accessible to us all. What made this man so inspiring to many and so influential even beyond the years of his life is not a product of one man in one time in history. The qualities, trials, triumphs, beliefs, ideals, and dreams that made this man a pillar of hope and achievement are all qualities that each of us possess in unique and distinct ways. Martin Luther King tailored his own experiences, times of despair, points of weakness, defining moments of strength, and instances where his courage stood against adversity into the relentless pursuit of his dream of justice, freedom, and equality for all. In a similar manner, we too can use our defining moments, beliefs, strengths and convictions in the pursuit of our own dreams. Martin Luther King inspires more than just the legacy he left behind, but he embodies the courage and conviction we must all draw upon in standing behind our dreams and the resilience we must all muster up in pursuing our dreams against adversary, obstacles, oppression, and discouragement. Learning from this great man and his greater fight to achieve so much more for our nation than what any single person had done before him, we may be inspired to muster up every ounce of our spirit in order to achieve what we have set before ourselves. As we reflect on how Martin Luther King discovered and achieved his dream, we may be able to tap into our own resilience, to build up our own strength, and to stand behind our own beliefs in the pursuit of our own dreams. As we stand at the threshold of this new year and of all the possibilities, adventures, and dreams that it begins to unfold for us, we may ask ourselves how we will begin to rediscover our dreams; we may begin to seek out why we have placed these dreams before ourselves. Once we have defined the importance of these dreams and the purpose that our dreams have in the world, we will then begin to recognize our own distinct potential in driving our dreams and our uniqueness in seeing those dreams become reality. Martin Luther King undeniably was one of the most influential and impactful men of our time, but what defined his influence and what shaped his greatness are the same spirits of conviction, defining points of strength, and triumphant moments of victory that have shaped each of us into the people we are today. It is time that we rediscover our dreams, ambitions, and passions and use the pursuit of our dreams in order to change the world in a way that no one else could. It is time to realize our potential and to activate our courage, conviction, strength, and resilience in order to leave our legacy and, perhaps with our success, to encourage future generations to believe in their dreams and to use their distinctness and uniqueness to impact the world. 

An Unconventional Warm Up: Reflecting on the Years Past

We all have a jam that gets us going- our favorite song to set the tone for the day, a warm up song before a long work-out, an upbeat song to put us in a good mood, a dance song for those moments when we want to celebrate how good life is. For me, that song is Kids by MGMT; it is the song that puts everything else I am doing on hold, it is the song that I can belt from the top of my lungs and shamelessly dance to alone in my car, or with a group of my closest friends. Simply, it is the song that always puts me in a good mood. Today is the first Tuesday of 2016. Usually, this is about the time when the “New Year’s Blues” kick in for me. The Christmas decorations come down, the lights get put away, the tree gets put out on the curb. Twelve months until the next holiday season seems like an eternity. We go back to work, some of our family leaves to go back home, and the mundane duties of life pick back up, almost without skipping a beat. This year, though, I was unusually looking forward to a new year, a fresh start, and the beginning of all I have to look forward to. My eagerness in awaiting the arrival of a new year could be attributed to a period of uncertainty, discontentment, confusion, and a sense of endless wandering that I found myself in post-graduation. In the last few weeks of December, I found myself eagerly awaiting a fresh new start, the relief of a new beginning, and the sense of promise that unfolding a new year’s surprises and treasures would bring. I was ready for 2016.Before jumping ahead to unpacking the adventures, treasured moments, surprises, and celebrations of this new year, though, I find it important to reflect on the years past, on the joyful moments and the uncomfortable moments, alike, on the happiness and on the disappointment, on the accomplishments and on the failures. In order to extend our arms to receive all that this year has to offer us, in order to make the most of the adventure, the hardship, the celebrations, and the surprises that this year will bring us, we must take time to reflect on how these past years have shaped us, steered us, and guided us to be the people that we are today. Those situations that made us discontent are a significant part of the course of our lives; likewise, are those moments in which we found ourselves lost, wandering, or not belonging, those times that tested us to our core, those hardships during which we almost gave up, those accomplishments we failed in achieving, or those expectations we have not yet met. Those moments and situations, those which we try to avoid or which we do not wish to remember, have significance in not only contributing to the people we are today, but they add meaning to everything we are awaiting this next year to unfold for us. It is important to reflect upon the situations that make us feel uncomfortable, lonely, and unaccomplished because those moments have given us the stamina to reach, even wearily, into the promise of a new year. Those moments and situations have given us the strength and determination to pursue our dreams, despite a time of wandering in which we may not see an end in sight. Those moments have a place in our lives, in the people we have become, and in the process of attaining what we want for this year ahead. This time of reflection is our warm up song. It is what will get us excited for what is to come. It is what will prepare our hearts and our minds to achieve goals, dreams, and aspirations that we did not think were possible to achieve. It is what we will draw upon to believe that we can soar beyond the limitations we have set for ourselves. It is our reminder that although similar times of discontentment, confusion, sadness, and loneliness may root themselves in the midst of this new year ahead, the strength that we have found in those past times will carry us through the uncertainties that the future may bring.Over the course of this month, I want to establish a space where we can prepare our hearts and minds for the year ahead. Through reflection, rest, rediscovery, and revival, let us set intentions for this year to come. Reflecting on the years past, then, is the first phase in preparing for the year to come. Establishing a time of reflection is necessary in order to begin living with boldness and tenacity, setting goals and dreams that resist fear, doubt, and all other limitations. Reflecting on how we have grown and changed during years past allows us to persistently work to achieve those goals. Reflecting on the love we have been shown allows us to shower those around us with unconditional love, abounding grace, unhibited kindness. Reflecting on the hard moments and the incandescently joyous moments, alike, reminds us to celebrate each moment with an authenticity and honesty that casts light to the lives of all those around us. Reflecting on the strength we have built leads us to believe that the hard and sad moments we may face will equip us and strengthen us beyond what we could ever imagine. Reflecting on the celebrations during even this past holiday season, with loved ones close and treasured moments held dear, invites an inspiration into our lives that reminds us to be present for the people in our lives, to, be aware of what is going on in the world, and to offer what we have to work to bridge gaps, distances, and differences.Through this time of reflection, let us make this next year more joyous, more progressive, and filled with more courage, depth, and love than all the years past. Let us welcome this year with openness and readiness. Let us plant our feet firm upon the ground that has been paved with the power, resilience, understanding, and all the desires of the years past. Let us use this foundation under our feet to launch into all the wonders of this next year ahead, a year that has incomparably more to offer us and exultantly more to reveal to us.