“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

I and many others have shared this quote and question from the poet Mary Oliver many times.

This morning, for no particular reason and for every particular reason, it has come back to me with the full force of its honest simplicity.  What will you do with YOUR one wild and precious life?

There are so many reasons that this question seems so important and poignant to me right now, in this one wild and precious moment.

Perhaps it is because I am the age that my mother was when she passed. I recall my Aunt telling me that on her birthday that year, my mom had rhetorically asked the question “how did I get to be this age?” Despite raising eight children, often alone as my dad traveled for work, she still felt young and vibrant.  She passed 6 months later, when I was 22, during my college graduation week and 2 months before I got married.

Perhaps it is because I see how quickly time passes, as I watch my grandson grow from precious newborn to sweet infant to curious toddler (still precious and sweet, of course), in what seems to be the blink of an eye. Each day that passes without seeing him seems like an eternity and makes me acutely aware of the importance of each moment we are given.

Perhaps it is because I was graced with close encounters with hawks twice in the past two days and I know that hawk energy is about seeing the bigger picture, listening to higher guidance and paying attention to the details of life. In order to soar we must hold a higher vision and make the changes in our lives to make this higher vision possible.

Perhaps it is because I recognize the potent time we are in, a time when we are all being called into the highest expression of ourselves. We need to do this now more than ever and we have the spiritual support available to us to step into our mastery.

Perhaps it is because I speak with so many women whose lives are not what they imagined for themselves and I hear their pain, sadness and fear in their words and reflected in their bodies. In our conversations, almost every one of these women acknowledge their desire to make a change and to work with me to do that.

They understand that they can’t do whatever it is they need to do on their own.  They’ve tried and failed. And, almost every one of these women, then go on to tell me how it’s not possible to work with me due to time constraints, family commitments, work responsibility or financial challenges.

When their time frees up, or the kids grow up, or the pressure at work lets up, or the financial challenges ease up…..then they will be able to turn their attention to themselves, their pain, their needs, their mental, emotional and physical health, their higher calling.

I honor and recognize all of what they are telling me and I know it’s not easy.  I’ve walked that path and it takes courage. I’d be happy to share more about that if you’re interested.  But this isn’t about me, it’s about you.

I know that if you continue to tell yourself, and me, that you’ll get around to yourself later, it’s probably not going to happen.

Here’s what I want you to know:

YOUR LIFE IS NOT A LUXURY

It is the one wild and precious life that Mary Oliver wants to know what you are going to do with.

Your emotional health, your mental health, your physical health, your relationship health, your career health, your parenting health, your spiritual health are not a luxury.  They are a gift and they deserve your full and undivided attention.

I know, without a doubt, that if your child, loved one, or even your pet needed something that would make them feel better, physically, mentally or emotionally, you would find a way to get it for them.  You would go to great lengths to provide them with whatever they needed to ease their pain or discomfort.

Why won’t you do the same for yourself?

When are you going to make your own SELF a priority?

When are you going to get honest with yourself about what you are tolerating, minimizing or putting off  in your life?

When are you going to make your own happiness, sense of fulfillment and inner peace your #1 priority?

Dear heart, these are not rhetorical questions.  You were not put on this Earth to suffer, to play small and to sacrifice yourself in service to others. You are a divine, sovereign being and deserve a full and rich life.  Tomorrows will come and go, more quickly than you imagine.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

I invite you to sit with this important question and tune in to your inner guidance.  Breathe into your heart and pay attention to what you feel, hear, see and know deep in your center of knowing. Do this more than once and notice what comes into your awareness.

If you feel guided to reach out and share your experience with me I’d be honored to listen.

In loving service,

Catherine