Greetings ,
In March, my friend, Funlayo, will be traveling to Zimbabwe for one week.
It will be her first visit to the African continent, and I’m so happy for her.
Funlayo will be staying in a fishing village near the beach, and she’ll have an opportunity to dance, eat great food, and immerse herself in the culture.
I wish I were going. I know it will be life changing.
But getting to this point has not been easy for her. In fact, it was scary. Funlayo is married with two kids, and was worried about what her husband would say. For weeks, she kept putting off the conversation even though, secretly, the flight had already been booked.
He was pissed off, . Hubby said her priorities are totally screwed up. How could she travel when the world is in such chaos?
Her Mom wasn’t happy about it either. Mom said, “the hell you ain’t going to Africa!”
But Funlayo is going, and she’s doing the right thing. She always been drawn to African culture. For years, she had two dear friends living in Zimbabwe, until one of them passed away. In the past few months, she’s been receiving so many spiritual messages and signs that support her urge to make this journey. Including the opportunity to meet up with a friend that she’s always had a powerful soul connection with.
I’m sharing this because I know there are things you want to do or experience, but fear might be holding you back. If that’s the case you’re hardly alone. It’s the human condition.
We tend to get stuck, or trapped, and sometimes we lack the motivation to break out of the rut we’re in and move forward.
In the book, A Year to Live: How to Live This Year As If It Were Your Last, author Stephen Levine says that people near death are often full of regrets.
“On their deathbed some people look back on their lives and are overwhelmed by a sense of failure. They become disheartened when they reflect on how they have overlooked the preciousness of their relationships, forgotten the importance of finding their ‘true work’, and delayed what some call ‘living my own life’,” says Levine
.
“All but those who have fully opened to life say they would live differently if they had just one more year. Many say they would change their work situation. Some say they would quit,” adds Levine. “Most concede they would at the very least reduce the number of hours they work, change jobs, or perhaps study some long-admired skill even though there might be no job at the end of the rainbow.”
“In their last year many people feel as if they have a second chance at growth and inner healing. Some, recognizing their desires, bought themselves the cello they had always wanted. Many are drawn to long walks in the woods and sitting quietly by the sea. Some went back to church, some took up a meditation practice, turning toward the mystery, investigating their own deathless nature,” says Levine.
What about you, ? What would you do differently if you only had one year left? People don’t like to think about such things. But sooner or later we must.
. . . You can’t wait forever to do what matters to you, .
And that’s what I told Funlayo last month when she started to think of reasons why maybe she shouldn’t travel to Zimbabwe. “Listen,” I said. “You need to get on the plane.”
If you look for reasons why you should not do what your soul is calling you to do, you will find them.
I wish you the courage to do what you want truly want to do, or to be who you truly want to be, .
I told Funlayo to send me some pics from Zimbabwe. I also called her Mom. I told Mom, Funlayo will be in good hands in Zimbabwe, and I’ll be checking up on her via Whatsapp.
This is all for now, . Let me know how you’re feeling and doing. I’m here to support you in any way that I can.
Live this year as if it were your last.
All my love,
James Weeks
Author, Meditations Across The King’s River
P.S. Still available for spiritual readings
P.P.S Signed copies of my book are available. Message me.