For me, this year has held an undertone of unease. Being raised in Sri Lanka during the height of our civil war, I approach political unrest and uncertainty differently than most Americans. There are signs that send shivers down my spine because I have witnessed what comes next. I know what it is like to be in a country where some suffer greatly, while others continue to live in their privileged bubbles as if nothing is happening. In these moments, my learned response is to act, to DO something that moves me and my family to safety. These actions do not have to be dramatic but knowing how to see an opportunity to create stability for oneself and ones’ family is a skill that I am grateful to have honed.

Making big life moves may seem daunting in the face of uncertainty. However, one of these moves may be the very thing you need to create safety and peace within your own world. The easier, safer choice may seem to do nothing, to wait until this storm passes and peace is restored. And that may be. However, I believe the braver choice is to be still enough to read the tea leaves in your cup and discern an opening that others may miss. Tuning out the noisy distractions is the first step. Slowing down to find greater discernment is the next. Seeing the opportunity and seizing it comes last.

How does this resonate with you? Is there something you are longing to do that you are afraid to move towards? What would your world be like if you looked forward instead?

With curiosity,

Nilmini