I feel like the snowman in the photo could be my very own self portrait right now. The likeness is uncanny to how I feel about my life, both in the present moment and also in the beautiful changes yet to come. The only difference between me and the snowman is that he is stuck on his path, right where we placed him. Destined to face the elements of weather, people and time, yet completely unable to change the experience and outcome of his reality. In fact, his path is entirely determined through external factors, with pretty much nothing in his power to control but a good attitude, faith in the process, and open arms.

Unlike the snowman, we humans are quite free to roam the earth and make our own destiny. In fact, we are quite capable of deciding what experiences we want to have, including the where, when, how, why, and with who. That is the beauty of our reality. We have the ability to consciously create our own life and adjust any and all elements as we go.

Moving over the bridge into 2020, I can’t help but feel empowered by the changes at hand. As a society, we are learning to change the experiences and outcomes of our reality and grasp the importance of heart-centred living. We are no longer letting external factors have power or control over our destiny. We are awakening to our once frozen state of being and becoming much more aware of all external and internal influences that co-create our world, while working individually and collectively to create a new and better one.

Please remember as we continue to journey down this path of global enlightenment, we may still face challenges, elements and adversaries, but take a page out of the playbook of my good old friend the snowman. Stand strong. Be vibrant. Stay true to you. Smile. Face the world with open arms. Maintain a good attitude. And most importantly, have faith in the process. In truth, that is the only way to live.

Namaste,

Lauren Heistad

(Photo Credit: Dawson Heistad. Snowman Credit: Dawson Heistad and Family, January 2020)