On November 4, 2008, I got hit by a bus while walking in a crosswalk. (You can read more about this incident in Part 1 of this series.) That makes today the 15th bus-iversary, which is blowing my mind. It’s hard to believe that it’s been so long, yet I can distinctly recall many of the November Fourths that have come and gone since, which helps conceptualize the passage of time a bit more when I really think about it.
Part of the reason this date is so memorable each year is because I always make a point of doing something to celebrate my life. It’s often something fun and social, like a concert or a nice dinner out on the town. Occasionally, I’ve planned trips around it, such as my 2019 visit to the Indiana Dunes or heading to the ocean thanks to a house-sit in Virginia Beach last year. Sometimes, I go a lower-key relaxation route by splurging on a massage or facial. Other times, I’ve lined up difficult things to coincide with this date to help me remember that I am strong and resilient as I take on the challenge. This is why I had my tooth extraction and smoking quit date scheduled for November 4, 2011, which you can read more about in this post from October.
This year, I’ve decided to begin with my monthly DIY Mindfulness Retreat, which will include meditation, mindful movement exercises, and lots of journaling. After that, I’m heading out for a hike at a 563-acre nature preserve on the outskirts of Raleigh, North Carolina. Then, I’ll wrap up the day reading and snuggling the fabulous German Shepherds I’m pet-sitting this week.
In the past year, I have become increasingly grateful for my life each day. This is, in part, thanks to the gratitude practices that I wrote about back in July, which help me keep appreciation at the forefront of my life. It’s also because I have been doing so much inner work this year and feel like I’m finally breaking through some blockages and realigning with my authentic self and purpose.
I see today as an opportunity to take stock of the growth I’ve experienced lately and renew my energy to continue carrying this work forward. I can’t think of a much better way to celebrate the privilege of being alive than to reflect with intentionality and recommit to everything I’m trying to build in whatever time I have left on this earth.
For those interested in my DIY Mindfulness Retreats post last month, I’m linking below the recordings and videos I queued up for today:
- Lake Meditation by Andy Hobson
- Body Scan by Tracey Cramond
- Gratitude Meditation by Dr. Susan Phoenix, Christine Heckel, and Gratitude Art
- Letting Go Meditation by Tara Brach
- Morning Yoga
- Qigong Routine for Healing and Strengthening Body
- Mindful Seated Yoga
- Miracle Tones Playlist for journaling
hezhub.com 