Being who we came here to be

I went to the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck NY last weekend for a retreat.

The grounds were beautiful! I met two new friends!

The sessions were moving and full of inspiration.

And yet, I left there feeling a little disappointed.

I thought the workshop would be smaller and more intimate.

I thought I would learn more.

I thought I would leave feeling refreshed.

I thought I would be transformed.

I had many expectations. These expectations were based on what I thought I should experience. And even though I was filled with gratitude for being in such a beautiful space with new friends, something was missing.

From our first conversations and all throughout the weekend the message we heard repeatedly was to BE.

I’ve always had a hard time being. I thought I had to accomplish more and more things so that I could be worthy and happy.

As I drove through the countryside back to the airport, I began unwinding my story of this experience.

I realized that I was expecting a profound, life-changing message from the weekend and I thought that just Being couldn’t possibly be it.

We get caught up in what society tells us we must accomplish to be happy. Or how we should look, where we should vacation, shop, or live. We work hard to find that happiness and fulfillment in all the things we can have.  But somewhere in our busy lives we leave behind who we are.

What if our greatest achievement in life is Being who we are and sharing ourselves with others?

I gained the clarity that I was looking for the day after I came home when I attended the funeral of a family member.

The funeral was an amazing tribute to a man who had a most well-lived life. Not because he did big things by society’s standards, but because he was who he came here to be. He was authentic. He was genuine.

I had only seen the church as full at Christmas and Easter as it was for his funeral.

There were countless comments about what a kind person he was and how he was famous for telling great stories. Everyone loved to hear his stories.

Being who we came here to be is sometimes not easy; life can get in the way, although, for some people, it seems natural, as it seemed for him.

I witnessed firsthand that Being can cause profound ripple effects in our lives and the lives of countless others.

Spirit has a magical way of bringing us what we need in perfect Divine time.

And when we get our expectations out of the way of how things must come, we open ourselves up to miracles.

I am grateful.

When we change the world changes.