I’ve spent the last ten days doing nothing. When we do nothing, we are able to drop down, to listen lowly. I’ve been doing that, which I suppose is not nothing. And since I’ve just moved locations 700 miles east back to the Appalachians, I’ve also been tracing my steps, like a deer in the snow, becoming familiar with the new home I chose for myself: the windows, the angle of the sun and moon, the stove, the shower, the pathway from the bedroom to the kitchen, the new view from my writing desk. I’ve been listening lowly and it’s not all been roses.
Now I know some of you will become concerned about this statement that it’s not all been roses. Please don’t! When I come across something else to release from my subconscious mind, an old belief or self-concept that is not aligned with who I am, I celebrate that. I’ve been doing this for decades. This is part of what is so very wonderful about being the age I am. Life has become immense, a long trail behind and a shorter one ahead. I can see how life evolves. This capacity—to see clearly without turning away—is something that grows with practice. But you don’t need to wait to be my age to do that.
As you know, we all have a conditioned voice—or voices—in our head: beliefs we accepted when we were young, and not so young, projected onto us by family and society. These beliefs are generally unconscious and must be made conscious if we are to live the life we were meant to live. Beliefs that are not true in the sense of aligning with your Essence (by which I mean your Spirit, that aspect of you that is absolute and eternal) tend to create what we call negative feelings. They don’t announce themselves as beliefs; they show up instead as feelings, reactions, and familiar inner tones.
As I listened lowly this week, I got to see and feel…a very subtle inner judgment—so subtle that had I not been doing nothing, I may never have noticed it.
Since part of my work in the world is to become aware of these things so that I am able to shine a light for you to become aware of your conditioning (if you want to), I’m very glad that I took this time to do nothing. I didn’t write. I didn’t work on my book. I didn’t create some new program for my business (although I plan to!) for 2026, I didn’t create videos for my YouTube channel (though I will be!), I didn’t eat my usual treats and big holiday meals, I didn’t get up early but slept until I woke up, which sometimes was 9 or later!
What I did do was stay present. In the moment. Each moment. Every moment. I stayed so very aware. And that includes being aware of what we don’t want to be aware of, such as a certain feeling of hopelessness, or powerlessness, or rage. These are very important feelings to feel. They free us once we do. They free us from the lie they hold in place. We’re all carrying a few lies about ourselves. It’s the thing I’m so very good at: helping you to grow your Awareness in order to see what is yours and what is not yours so that you are free to choose.
As we all start to write 2026 in our notebooks, let’s each muster up the courage to become who we are meant to be. To speak what we are meant to speak. To love who we are meant to love. To be courageous in our actions, doing what we are afraid to do but deep down know we must do. Let us not care what others think of us. Let us stand for the liberation of all people. Let us expand our ability to hold parallel timelines: the joy of being alive and welcoming a new year at the same time we witness the devastation of genocide. Let us become immense in our own way, honoring our ancestors by doing and becoming what they were not able to be and do. Let us be for not just our own liberation and joy but the liberation and joy of all people, for one cannot happen without the other.
Happy New Year Everyone!
