January 19th: Wendy Ward
The day began with a gentle and luxurious nudge awake to the sound of birds and evermore glowing light. Not real birds or real daylight because this was pre-sunrise, but a genius alarm clock at a dear friend's home. It was the closest thing to waking naturally that I've ever experienced. As the real light dawned, we collected at the table and savored sparkling red strawberries before heading to sangha, a meditation community and practice held in a charming, old-fashioned schoolhouse. My friend and I slipped in silently, removing shoes and padding quietly across the room, finding our seats in the circle of cushions, buddha statues, and practitioners. It had been years since I'd been part of a meditation community and group practice, and my body had longed to find this again. Despite being in a group of strangers, the energy was welcoming, safe, comfortable. Alternating practices of seated and walking meditations were interspersed with singing, marveling at the new mom who brought her sweet baby, sharing insights we garnered throughout the session, and then we went about our Sundays.
My friend and I met nearly two years ago at an adventure club meeting, which we joined to...make friends. As friendships go, our connection was a form of love at first sight. I immediately recognized her matching Leo energy, kindness, intelligence, faith in the Universe, wisdom, and spiritual leanings. Within two minutes, I said, "Can we be friends?" Onlookers chuckled and said it was like watching kids on the playground making friends.
Fast forward to now, and we are enjoying the ever-growing depths of our sisterhood, sharing stories, perspectives, struggles, and wins; cheering each other on and being the shoulder to lean against when the other needs to rest on their journey. This friend SEES ME, not as who she wants me to be but who I AM. It is magical to be understood even when words are inadequate to describe what I have to say or how she understands me so perfectly. Our combined energies make our moments together flow effortlessly, time is irrelevant, no subject is off limits, no patience is exhausted in the hearing of a struggle - but instead, a gentle and loving holding of space for the other as we take turns sharing, observing, offering, being our truest selves in the presence of this most exquisite friendship, a place hard to come by in the world these days.
My heart overflows with gratitude at finding this magical friend and friendship.
Wendy is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who lives a joyously unconventional life and loves writing, traveling, heart-centered talks with friends, and reveling in her family and spiritual pursuits.