Lessons from the snow and ice

Available for 29 days

Good morning. The Winter Olympics are currently taking place in Italy. I’ve not experienced these sports unless you count childhood occasions of sliding around on ice when local lakes had frozen over or a few ice rink adventures at Christmas time in central London! Plus I’ve always been scared of going down hill at speed and don’t especially like the cold! However, I’ve really enjoyed receiving short videos and messages from my good friend in Estonia who has been getting out on her skis and skates over these past few months. To feel more engaged with the Winter Olympics, I asked what she loves about skiing and skating. Highlights she shared with me include a feeling of freedom; she can’t be worrying about problems or thinking about anything in the past or what’s happening tomorrow. It calls her to be completely present in the moment, connecting to an inner flow that comes through coordinating her breath and movement, bringing a sense of aliveness and alignment with the universal spirit. But what I found especially interesting is she said it’s helped with conquering many fears including how the mountain and the cold has helped her conquer a fear of death. So I’ve appreciated reflecting on what the Olympics can teach us that relates to our everyday existence. Dear God, may we have gratitude and respect for this physical body, which is the centre of our experience. Even if we aren’t going to be Olympic champions, may we feel inspired and courageous to try new experiences and bring a new depth of understanding about what it means to be human. But also recognise how activities that take us out of our comfort zone can support our growth so we may excel in our own way within the bigger picture of our life. Sat Naam