It is this experience with working and journey with people through life altering circumstances that gives me the perspective that life is rich and that people have an indomitable spirit that becomes awake during the most tragic time of our lives.

I often refer to this as the Gift of a Thistle, where something has come our way through difficulty and that we now know something that we couldn’t have know without this experience. It is usually something we would never want to experience or have others experience. Yet, with this, is a possibility of a gift. This could be the gift of what really matters and how precious living really is. It may provide us with the gift of courage and faith. The gift is as unique and personal as the situation itself.

I believe you don’t have to experience life altering tragic circumstance to reap the benefits of a life full of “light” that is really brimming instead of skimming. We have this tendency to go through life on auto pilot, usually hectic and stress filled that we seldom pause and appreciate the very breath we take and the things that take our breath away.

Through this privilege of traveling with others during their most difficult times there is a gift to be shared and yearned for and that is of Reflection: Reflections of light is a natural, active, illuminating, conscious, transformative, replenishing process involving perspective and knowledge.

There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.  ~Edith Wharton

There is much to ponder with the notion of “light.” How we view, create and bring “light” into our life and work can be one of our biggest assets. Farlex dictionary defines light as a sensation of perceiving, a particular quality and quantity or pathway, illumination, signal and beacon, attention, knowledge, a way of looking at or considering a matter, guiding spirit, divines, cheerfulness, ease, to ignite and kindle.

I see light as multi faceted and as all of the above as we create light, give light, tap in to light. Light can involve wisdom, creativity, compassion, intuition, insight, perspective, success, vision, spirit, playfulness, humor and joy.
I also believe that our “light” can become more powerful through the tool of reflections.

Reflection as define by the Farlex dictionary states “manifestation or result, transformation, a change of direction of a wave, sound or light, expression, introspection, careful calm contemplation, mental concentration, thought resulting from consideration.”

When we are quiet and create opportunities and space in our life and work to reflect/ponder/muse/wonder our “light” has the opportunity to shine through. All of a sudden our vision becomes clearer and we have this incredible energy to address what ever our task may be. We may gain insight into the value of bringing“lightness” in to our work and lives that also involves play, and humor.

The essence of Reflections of Light really is about, creating the type of life and work we want with awareness, joy and compassion for oneself and others. It all starts with acknowledging where we are at and not pretending, coasting, sleeping, just existing through life; it’s about life’s breadth and living a life brimming with passion, purpose and possibilities.