Did you sing it? Just me and my shadow, strolling along the avenue. It's a great tune from 1927 that speaks to the loneliness we can all feel at some point in our lives. Mom was a huge Perry Como fan so we heard this song a lot. I always thought it was an uplifting song because he had his shadow with him.

Today I was riding my bike and the sun peaked out enough to create my shadow ahead of me and I started humming the tune to myself. I was very happy to be out there with my shadow strolling along the Ashuwillticook Trail. (For those who aren't local, have fun saying it!)

It turns out in the song, the lyrics were speaking to one's loneliness as he only had his shadow for company.  We all have that shadow side. It is the aspect of ourselves that can carry the sadness but it is also the wonderful doorway to who we really are. Debbie Ford did some amazing work helping people to accept the shadow side of themselves. I love her work and it's as relevant today as the day she wrote it.

I often ask people to embrace the parts of themselves they don't want to see as helpful. Be nice to that voice that is whispering or yelling, to be heard. Be willing to listen to what your heart, soul, mind and energy needs.

Once you start listening, you can deconstruct the crap that got in there over the years and shed some light on that shadow part. Shine some divine energy it's way to free up some room for the excellence that is you. Isn't that what we all want? To shine and embrace all aspects of ourselves. To relax about what makes us, us and bring ease to this human experience?

I promise you, for most of us, the shadow isn't as scary as it seems. It does, however, hold unlimited dreams and hopes and desires and it deserves to be explored. If you need help exploring it, I am here. I will bring the headlamps, flashlights and fireflies to light the way.

Off to make shadow puppets,

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

Don't wait for the perfect scenario to be good with you. It won't happen. We can have moments of "that was amazing" or "This is the best day ever", but perfect is just not attainable. Thank goodness because that is a lot of work to maintain, I would imagine. I don't know because perfection is not something I strive for. Mostly to avoid any disappointment as I know it is an exercise in futility. But I digress, or maybe am creating another blog.

So, don't wait for any scenario to be good with you. I mean, who are you walking around with anyway? YOU! No matter where you go, there you are, following, annoying and hopefully encouraging at the same time. See, you are too busy for perfection. So, if you are walking around with you, shouldn't you like you? Shouldn't you want to hang out with you?

Do you? Do you like your own company? Do you enjoy your solitude? I'm not talking about the time you say you are alone, but in fact, are on your computer, phone,  tablet or hooked into the tv. I'm talking about the time sitting quietly in your space, or walking or connecting with the very essence that is you. ALL of you, voices in the head included! Can you be silent without exterior noise or people and be good with it?

It's weird isn't it? We've become so connected that we've unconnected from ourselves. The idea of being alone is so scary to some, they become leeches on others and even believe that someone else's presence is the reason they believe they are happy or sad or mad or elated or any other feeling you can imagine. We are not Siamese twins, unless of course you are, meant to walk around so tied into another's beingness that we cease to be one yet I meet people every week who will say, "I can't be happy without him/her." To which I usually ask, how long were they alive before they met this giver of happiness and then ultimately the perceived taker of happiness. It is never at birth! It is always later in life, yet the belief is that this other human holds the key to all their value. Bunk, I tell ya, bunk!

I know we are here to connect with others but it is only when we are able to be with self, that true connection can happen. Otherwise, we are simply looking to others to complete us (thanks a LOT Jerry McGuire movie!). Sure, it's scary looking at self and seeing if there are any redeeming qualities there and if you are someone you could love but is also the most empowering thing you can do. And guess what happens when you love and like yourself? Other people do too! How cool is that?

So, take some time this week and set an intentional time, a date with self so to speak, where you tap in and ask, "Do I like me? Do I want to spend time with me? Am I afraid if I don't connect or am I afraid if I do connect?" As I pointed out earlier, you go everywhere with you, so don't tell me there isn't time!

When you find that you are good hearing from you, or feeling what you feel, you will realize that alone is not loneliness. Alone is the filling up of your reservoir where loneliness is the draining. Alone is the centered place of solitude where loneliness is the, I need someone to fill me up.

There is one thing for certain, when you come into this world you are doing the journey alone even though people are there with you, much like when you go out, there will be souls with you, but it is still solely your journey. Don't you want to know that you rocked it by liking you and taking the time to know how great you are?

Give it a go. Really be in that alone place this week. You may find you just love it so much, you crave it. To which I will say CONGRATULATIONS! We need more centered people in this universe! The bonus to getting to this place....you really start liking other people!

Here's to being alone I won't bug you when you are. :)
Vicki