“What did you learn this year?”
I braved the pre-Xmas crowds on Saturday – after spending most of the week in bed with the flu – and ventured into the center to have lunch near Trafalgar Square.
My co-author Yang-May asked the question that had strangely been on my mind for most of the day.
In 2008, large part of my energy went into writing our book. What amazed me is the rhythm that sets in after you have been writing for a while. It’s like music. Is it the soul of the book taking hold of you? I don’t know. But I have certainly learned that once you start creating something, your “creation” begins to carry you and you have to let go and follow.
So – to answer Yang-May’s question – was the lesson of 2008 “let go and follow the energy”?
It certainly felt that way during the summer, while I was watching my mum breathing through a machine in a hospital in Venice. Her accident has been another source of lessons from 2008.
I have already written about the strange experience of communicating with her effectively without words. To this, I would add the experience of listening to the energy of the moment that gave me the firm conviction that mother would pull through.
After lunch, I immersed myself in Xmas shopping. I floated around Floris on Jermyn Street…. I love the place. It looks right out of the 1930s.
I chose a present for mother, gave it to the shop attendant and looked at myself in the enormous old mirror. Under a purple hat, my eyes were filling up with tears. I was probably the only customer that day who seemed to be getting emotional over body lotion…
I felt like opening my mouth and explaining… but all of the sudden, the world felt so perfect.
I managed a large smile from my still somewhat sickly face, grabbed my parcel and stepped outside into the rainy London evening…. feeling extremely happy.
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Hi Silvia,
Hope you’re well. We haven’t seen each other in a while, but like you I nearly lost my mother to a terrible accident. I can relate to what you say about tears in your eyes over a silly bottle of bodylotion, I had the same. I spent Christmas with my mum this year and when I was buying a small present for her, I nearly cried too, out of sheer happiness that she is still with us. Good luck with your blog. Helen
Hi Helen,
it has been a long time. I am so happy your mum is doing better.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. They mean so much to me. It has been such an incredible adventure! I am still trying to organise my feelings around it. I wish you and your mum a wonderful New Year with lots of happiness and good health. Silvia