“Living All In”
For many of us, this year has been full of challenge. I have found it was also full of opportunities: To reflect on what I value, to take time to care and share what I can with others, and to be creative, resourceful, and grateful for the blessings as I ‘live all in’ in my day to day.
Guiding Principles for ‘Living All In’:
- Fostering a Conscious Relationship with Self: Do the on-going work needed to know our Self and our values
- Fostering Conscious Relationships with Others: Be curious about the values, needs and dreams of others
- Fostering Conscious Relationship with our Environment: Be aware of the impact we and others have on the space around us, and how that impacts us.
- Embodying Conscious Service within Community: Make it a lifestyle to be courageous with our gifts – sharing, receiving and caring generously whenever, wherever and however we can in a way that is best for all
- Pursuing Conscious Learning: Dedicate to a lifelong practice of being our best by risking making mistakes, reflecting, and leaning into the lessons of lived experience
- Cultivating Love Consciously: Create possibilities by seeking the best in our Self and in others. Creating the conditions to flourish in harmony with each other, with all living beings and with the Earth.
Last Fall, after my own deep dive into personal reflection, I decided it was time for me to make a change. In response to this inner call, I decided to gather and build a refugee sponsorship group. My hope was
1) to share more of what I have with others in need of support;
2) to model and engage my son in learning first hand about appreciating differences and discovering the humanity that connects us with each other amidst those differences; and
3) to create opportunities for friends, family and community members to get involved and learn about refugee sponsorship and how simple it is to change lives for the better…together.
My family, and four other local families in Calgary, created the Refuge4All Sponsor Group and sponsored a family of seven from Africa. I took a three month sabbatical February-April to be available full time to welcome and offer day to day support. After 20 years of living in a refugee camp, there was much for them to learn about life in Canada, and certainly there was much for me to learn as well! I decided to extend my sabbatical for the remainder of the year and devote the rest of my time to them. If you are interested in learning more about their story, or about our efforts, please click here: www.refuge4all.com/news
In other family news, my husband, son and I welcomed a new baby boy into the world in February! I am now enjoying some maternity leave to be with our smallest growing boy. I want to see what little Quinn and I need before deciding on a specific return date. I promise to keep everyone posted once I know when I will be returning to work, either part or full time. (Photos of Quinn below!)
Until then, I will very much look forward to hearing updates from you- about what is challenging you and fulfilling you in your work and life. Your messages lift me up and brighten my day! I will post messages here on my new blog site in the upcoming months, in the hope of offering a little inspiration when, and as I am able. Let’s stay connected!
The world needs our love, our care and our gifts more than ever.
May 2017 be a year of ‘living all-in’ for each of us!
Amy
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