Today is the last day of my seventy-five day journey to connect more deeply with God, Spirit, Holy, Love…to explore “What the Heart Knows” during the waning days of 2020.
Wow! What a ride it’s been. I can’t believe we’re at our destination. The train has chugged up to the station. The airplane has landed. Our hike through the woods is over.
Bye, 2020. Namaste. I bow to you. I thank you for everything you’ve given. For all that’s been given–both wonderful and challenging–I put my hands to my heart and say, “Thank you, Spirit, for another year of life.”
This daily blogging commitment has filled my being with a sense of purpose. Something dedicated and fierce and soft to share each day. To open the heart with as much vulnerability as possible. It’s been a pleasure to show you a deeper slice of Kathy, shining a flashlight on what matters to me.
I have often shared just surface impressions during the last twelve years of blogging on WordPress. It’s often been a place to relax, to goof around. To just have fun. (Although, jeez, spirituality did make appearances because the Holy just can’t help herself, can she?) These seventy five days it’s felt like stripping away some of the mask to reveal what lies beneath.
I have spent much of my life exploring my relationship with the Holy. It informs every day, every month, every year–even when things get tough and it feels like it’s not. It’s what matters.
I don’t talk about spirituality a lot to most people. Only to a core group of friends who care. Many folks aren’t just set up this way. They’re not interested in deeply exploring their relationship with God. They’re some of my best friends and family members, too.
Those of you who have read, liked, commented, engaged–wow. You guys are the best. This heart has swelled over and over again to read your own insights, your journeys, your love, your support, your expression, your being.
I think this has been one of my biggest insights of this blogging commitment–how cool and amazing my friends and readers are. How much you mean. So THANK YOU–all of you–for your Presence. Some of you have even paused here every single day. I am crying a little now. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again.
Finally–to the Holy, the Heart, Spirit–you are the rock that holds it all up. You are the gentle pond both inside and out. You are guide, pilot, leader. You aren’t separate by one iota: you surround and encompass and engage. You’re One light shining through everything. I thank you for always being here. I thank you for being the center of this life. You give meaning to it all through your silent yet ever-present love.
This is What the Heart Knows.
May 2021 bring us closer to realizing what our hearts already know. I pray hundreds of blessings for you, even during heartache or sorrow. May we keep opening to love. Namaste once again.
Please feel free to share what your heart really knows right now. What you’ve learned in 2020. Where you’re setting your compass for as the new year dawns.
And don’t worry–we’ll talk again in January, 2021, although who knows about what!!
So many things in life we can’t change. Thankfully, God, the Holy One can change us. I will be forever changing my world, in small incremental ways, in larger than life ways. May it bring joy and encouragement, not pain or discouragement.
Yes, indeed, Roger–may the changes of and for the Holy bring joy and encouragement in the upcoming year. Thanks for stopping by and sharing this.
Kathy,
It is I who is grateful that you took this journey while sharing here in your blog for all who were led here to read, to contemplate your offers from Holy/Spirit.
I am blessed to call you friend. A friend through the years now… When we met in NYC, that experience was like we had been old friends for longer than we had.
I keep hearing spirit nudging me to somehow continue what you started here. Can I do a daily blog on spirit? At least for a month, and then a few times a week… because it certainly has open the space for me to use my voice which has been very quiet of late…
Happy New Year!
Jeff, it’s been wonderful to have you along for the ride. Yep, it certainly felt like we had known each other forever when we met in New York City and shared coffee and lunch and photography and conversation together. It will be so interesting to see what you decide to do in the New Year. What will the Holy call you to do? So glad that you’ve shared your voice and spirit here…maybe it was just a nudge to get you back in practice. Thank you so much.
Giving thanks for another year of life – wow. That made me think of so many blessings I may have missed in the dreadful year of 2020. Looking back, the Holy was there all along, but it was I who faltered.
I’m going to miss reading these posts. But I look forward to a new journey of words. Happy new year! XOXO
Isn’t that true, Stacy? How the Holy is really always surrounding us, but we get scared or lose our way somehow. I am so very very grateful for the gift of your presence and confidence during these seventy five days. Thanks for always being there. (Or, rather, here.) And guess what? I started reading your book today. Loved reading about looking at the many colors of green and brown in the forest. Perfect!
Thank you, Kathy. I hope you enjoy the story.
Oh, Kathy, I feel sad .. well, poignant, bittersweet. These daily posts for 75 days have been healing, restorative, thought-provoking, full of love and light – Holy. Thank you for accepting this challenge, for listening to your heart, and for giving us so much, in so many ways. Thank you for “opening the door and walking inside” … for sharing so much of YOU. Which touches so much of US.
Many blessings and a basket full of gratitude. You’re amazing.
Well, darn it all to pieces, WordPress just ate my response to you. So let’s start again. It warms my heart to hear that you’ve loved these seventy five days and that you’re feeling bittersweet sad. Endings can so often be that way, right? And then there’s the gap before we know what’s happening next. That in-between time. I so appreciate your friendship so much–you know that–and am eternally grateful for your support along this quest. A basket full of gratitude back to you. ❤
What my heart really knows right now …that when i am caught in a dump ( I started reading a book that was kind of disgusting in theme, but it was written my a true artist and I lowed the language ….and it went worse – and I “HAD TO ” see how it ended – some kind of control – and afterwards I felt so bad! – And now my heart knows that It may be wise to explore WHY I just dont put it aside at once – AND also it tells me that when i put it away and go here, Spirit lets me see what I need to see, right now – like this:
“You’re One light shining through everything. I thank you for always being here. I thank you for being the center of this life. You give meaning to it all through your silent yet ever-present love.”
I let Spirit shine through it all ♥ and there is no judgment there
Leelah, thanks for sharing what’s true and happening with your heart right now. Isn’t it interesting when we’re caught in that tangle where part of us wants to do one thing and another part something else? I know that cross well. We know what the Holy seems to want but we railroad on ahead anyway. But Spirit keeps shining through all of it and has no judgment. Isn’t that the amazing part? No judgment. And yet we can learn from this and maybe it can sink deeper into our heart and cells for the future. Thank you so much for reading and commenting and shining your light here, Leelah. ❤
I have greatly enjoyed reading your posts. I feel like you are my blog friend. Here’s to friendship, community and spiritual contemplation. Happy New Year.
Sarah, I am so glad to have met you during these seventy five days! Raising a glass to your toast and Happiest of New Years to you. See you in 2021!
I don’t think – “Thank you for another year of life.” – has ever meant more but I am sincerely grateful that I am still living, so that I can see the end of this year.
Deb, that is a very good point–to be grateful that we’re still alive and breathing and living to see another day. Especially this year. Thank you for reading and sharing of yourself so much here during the last 75 days.
Your commitment to the 75 days had already started when I first visited here. Thanks for sharing your journey, stimulating my thoughts, and allowing me to chime in. Happy New Year to you and yours. …. and in case you are wondering, I return on the 9th.
Frank, thank you for your support and for sharing your own thoughts here. It’s been nice to get to know you. Happy 2021 to you and hope to see you on the 9th!
🙂 The next walk is scheduled and ready to go.
Yay!
Thank you for taking us for the ride! It was lovely, and brave, and kind of you to share.
Thank you so much, Markus and Micah, for coming along for the journey. It taught me so much, and it was lovely to share with others.
Congratulations Kathy on finishing such a dynamic challenge. I’ve only had time to tune in to some of your posts and found them very restorative. It’s not often I find people writing about spiritual things outside the realms of standard religious norms. Thanks for sharing your heart. Happy new year 2021!
Whew, Alanna–can’t believe it’s over now. It was a dynamic challenge, thanks for saying that. I didn’t want to write with any kind of religious overtone, just a spiritual and embodiment tone. But it’s really hard to put words to the heart. But also kinda fun. Thanks for tuning in when you could and sharing your thoughts.
Thanks for “talking” to me every morning for 75 days, Kathy. Your posts always make me think and feel more deeply. Wishing you much love and laughter in 2021. (I’ll miss your daily visits.)
Barb, I just love that image of you drinking tea in your Colorado home and pausing here to read and think–and, yes, feel more deeply. So far in 2021 I am smiling a lot today. I wish you the same. And am also looking forward to reading your January Small Stones. The picture of your window, table and fireplace is so beautiful. What a magnificent house you live in!
Have a safe 2021 Kathy
Bright Blessings
Same to you, Ms. Tilly. May 2021 be good to you and yours. ❤
A beautiful finale to your 75 days a ‘Spirit’ writing, Kathy. ❤
I have shared much with you along the way, have had many 'ah-ha' moments as I have read, and if there's one thing I am now certain of, it's this – we may live on opposite sides of the world, but we really are all one. We leave a small part of ourselves everywhere we go, either physically or through the internet.
Looking forward, so much, to whatever you write about next. ❤
Joanne, thanks for your support and accompaniment during these last 75 days, Joanne. You are so right about the Oneness. It knows no boundaries or borders and we’re all interconnected in ways we can hardly imagine. Already looking forward to writing more soon!
That made me smile, to know you’re looking forward to writing more soon. 😊
And your comment made me smile too! 🙂
Congratulations on the end of this journey Kathy, I hope that it brings you insights for the year to come that you don’t even know about yet 🙂
What a good point! I have noticed this before after a spiritual quest or long time spiritual commitment–the insights keep coming for a long time after. The tree keeps bearing fruit. So appreciate you saying this. ❤
Amazing how the Holy Spirit guides. Very spontaneously (on my iPhone no less) I’m picking back up where I originally left off 2 months ago in setting up a WordPress account. I honestly have no idea what I am doing with it yet and I somehow stumbled onto your post… which so greatly resonated with me to a level that I am actually commenting. I’m fasting today (hopefully for two more days) and seems the Holy Spirit is at work guiding and leading me with affirmation that I am in the right place… I will be back. God Has Spoken, Peter
The Holy Spirit does indeed guide in mysterious ways. I am glad you found your way to my post–on the last day of my 75 day spiritual commitment. Blessings to you as you fast. It sounds like you listen very intently to what is being revealed.
Thank you so much for the 75 days of focus on Presence, Kathy, from so many thoughtful perspectives. 💙 You have a way with words and have described so many spiritual feelings and knowings so eloquently — I will miss my daily dose of encouragement. 🙏 (Even when I’ve been late!) I love the adorable hand-painted Christmas card from Dawn! The heart carved into the tree, the sweet little owl with a hat just like mine, the leaf clinging to the branch long after autumn left us… Right now my heart knows it is full of gratitude for the blessings received in the otherwise awful 2020 and is looking forward to making the best of things in 2021. Thank you so much for your heart-sharing and friendship!!!
Barbara, thank you for reading so many of these posts and sharing your own knowings as well. It has been so delightful hearing from others who love Presence, too. Glad you enjoyed Dawn’s card, too. That hat! I have one just like it–only it’s blue and white. So happy that you’re feeling gratitude and your heart is open. Many many blessings to you!
Thank YOU for sharing so much of yourself and your heart with all of us. I didn’t realize that there was a heart on the little card I sent you…it fits perfectly in your theme, and it wasn’t intentional…or maybe it was and I just wasn’t paying attention. 🙂
Dawn, that was a PERFECT card you sent! I loved the little heart–and especially enjoyed that you sent it without any conscious intention to do so. Really liked your little card and your presence during the 75 days.
Is that a 9 o clock flower plant? I am talking about the first image. 🙂 Aww, I love all the cards/images especially the cute owl wearing that little red warm hat! Life is so much unpredictable. We never know what’s ahead. We should pray for all to find peace. I Hope, this new year brings blessings for you.
That first image is the tip of a spruce tree outside in our yard. I am glad you enjoyed Dawn’s card. So sweet! Praying for peace along with you…thank you for stopping by to read and comment.
Hello again, Kathy! We have just sent you turtle mail to give you an update regarding your turtle nest adoption. We sent it in the email you used to comment on our blog. Thank you again for supporting the turtles!
I read your entire email to Barry and showed him all the pictures. Thank YOU for caring so much for the turtles and reaching out to help them. So proud of you guys!
I am pleased to read this, that you made it through your daily commitment with your sanity intact and your heart still open. The thing about personal blogging is that you make yourself vulnerable every time you post anything, more so when you start talking about spirituality. Kudos to you for doing so with such style and fervor.
Well, Ally Bean, you’ve made me laugh again. With my sanity intact! That is sure important! (But, hmmm, is my sanity intact? Let’s hope so!) So glad you understand about the vulnerability and spirituality part. It was challenging indeed. And so appreciate your support! ❤
I loved your “holy” posts, Kathy. Please continue to blog – about everything and anything. Because we are surrounded by HOLY every minute. Do I need to remind myself of that sometimes? Yes indeedy. 🥴💖🙏
Well, yes, Pamela, you’ve hit the nail on the head. We ARE surrounded by the Holy every minute. And yes, we need reminders. Probably all of us. (Except maybe the saints. Maybe saints don’t need reminders. Jury is still out on that one.)
Thank you for providing a place to ponder and absorb spirit here.
You are welcome, dear. It was such a space indeed. ❤
I don’t know how I missed this one, but I did. Congratulations to you for your persistence. You brought us all so much richness in the process . . .
Dogged persistence indeed! Thank you for saying it brought others richness. That was my sincere wish. ❤