Imagine waking up and being grateful the temperatures outside are about 19 degrees on April 11th. This morning that is exactly how I feel. For anyone that comes and spends any time with me at Tapestry Lodge you know that my morning ritual is a very important part of my day. From the end of October, generally until the end of April my first task in the morning is to get the fire going. Know that I have a grind and brew coffee maker with a timer so that part is already taken care of, with the coffee pot generally grinding at 5AM. This girl knows her priorities!!
While many parts of the the country are really experiencing spring, we seem to have one last winter storm before our daffodils bloom. And for the the couple of days we had that. So this morning as the temps are still cold I get to practice my ritual. The fire for me represents a way for me to just take time to think about where I am, to ponder what the great spirits have in store and get the day started in calm not chaos.
Each year as I come to the end of the wood stove season I feel a sense of loss, not quite knowing what to do with my mornings to create the same feeling of connectedness the fire gives me. I have a hard time “letting go” of the fire as silly as that sounds because of what it represents in my morning. For me it is a recovery remedy, something that has become a part of the fabric of my life for 6 months.
As I was looking at the fire this morning which seems to be burning especially well I was thinking about “letting go.” How many times have I had to practice these muscles in 52 years?? More than I can count. It started with letting go of my Dad when I was 24, he died of a massive heart attack, giving two of my loving four legged companions Lady and Sassy their angel wings, not to mention countless relationships over the past 25 years.
Probably the biggest opportunity to let go was when I gave up my addiction to alcohol, I let go of a 25 year relationship, one that never let me down….until it did. And if it hasn’t let you down yet it will. Everything will run it’s course in your life until it no longer serves you, just like the morning fires with me. Soon I will have the windows wide open to bring in the fresh clean mountain air, and it will literally clear out all of the winter smells. Is it time for you to open your windows? Time to clean out the wood stove and make room for new? I realized this morning that I shall begin my process of winding down this morning ritual that I love. And with this one I know that I will have a chance for it again in another 6 months.
Tags: Alcoholism