Happiness that does not depend on what happens

I woke up this morning with more energy than I have had in a long time.  Fall of 2011 into the holiday season was so laden with projects, stress, and deadlines that I really lost myself and at times, my sanity.  We are so defined by what we do and what we are doing in any given moment, it is easy to lose contact with what is important–being good at living. And for those of us that lack religion, it can be hard to carve out sacred spaces in life.

For me, dance and my dedication to it was always sacred.  But now that I no longer carry that strong definition and title “I am a dancer” as a torch, it has often seemed more difficult to blaze a path for myself as an artist and person, intent on exploration and transition.  Many new activities and potential definitions have taken the place of dance, but when the excitement and business subside, I am left knowing there is still something missing in such a full schedule: uninterrupted time for myself, not just for my activities. I don’t have any set resolutions for 2012, but in giving myself a little quiet time this morning, I found an inspiring essay in the NYTimes that I would love to share:

The Joy Of Quiet by Pico Iyer.

Happy New Year!  (now feel free to close this window and power down)