Dwelling in the shadows

One of the intentions I had for the month of October was to be welcoming of, and willing to see, the shadowy parts of myself. These aren’t always the aspects of myself that I enjoy fully facing. I often prefer to turn away, to hide the shadowy subjects from view, and to eliminate their distraction.

Earlier this month, during the solar eclipse, as I took a walk around our neighborhood with my husband, David, we noticed that the eclipse was casting tiny moon shadows through the trees. Hundreds of shadows on the ground surrounded us and seemed to follow us whenever we walked. The more I stared at them, the more beautiful they became. The more beautiful they became, the more of them I was able to notice and see.

The word “shadow” has many definitions, and one that I, personally, was less familiar with prior to this month was the following: “an inseparable attendant or companion.”

What if our shadowy parts were dear friends with whom we were excited to share this experience of life? What if we invited our shadows to speak—to be more fully seen and heard? What, then, would they share with us?

What if we weren’t stuck with our shadows, but rather supported by them in the journey to knowing ourselves in our wholeness?

Five lessons I received from dwelling in my shadows this month:

1. An unexpected diversion might mean you were destined for a different destination all along.
2. Feedback is a fabulous friend who offers great advice if you’re willing to listen.
3. Saying “no” to something is actually saying “yes” to something else.
4. When motivation gets tired of driving, let commitment take the wheel.
5. In loss, we find ways to be even more human.