I was listening to a lecture from my meditation teacher, Tara Brach, and she mentioned Mark Nepo’s book on The Exquisite Risk. I came across this quote from his work:

“Whether through the patterns left in snow, geese honking in the dark or through the brilliant wet leaf that hits your face the moment you are questioning your worth, the quiet teachers are everywhere, pointing us to the unlived portion of our lives. When we think we are in charge, the lessons dissolve as accidents or coincidence. But when we’re humble enough to welcome the connections, the glass that breaks across the room is offering us direction, giving us a clue to the story we are in.”

I’ve been thinking about my work and the path I want to live over the next few years. As I listened to the talk this morning, Tara discussed finding the “clearing in the forest of our lives” where we can take a moment to reflect on what is meaningful for us among all the filler that comprises our typical day. It got me thinking that perhaps I need a “gap year” to consider my life options.

After all, why should a gap year be restricted to new high school graduates?

I often tell my clients that we can learn much from observing and listening to the world around us. Clients look to me for advice and ideas, and I know that my job is to listen carefully and provide a perspective that will help them to see their work and their world in a different way. I know they already possess the wisdom needed to address their desired improvement. My job is to help them find it and create a path to make it their reality

Our resilience builds upon the challenges and opportunities we use to grow and strengthen ourselves within our lives. Yet, we can also discover that there is “more” we seek for the life that is truly fulfilling

Anyone interested in joining in a gap year?

© Richard Citrin 2022