The season of mists and deep thoughts has arrived, bringing with it an irresistible invitation to ponder life's mysteries.
Here's what's been stirring in my heart and mind these autumn days...
Quote I am pondering
"Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrows. It empties today of its strength." ~ Corrie ten Boom
A Reflection I'm Sitting With
As my husband and I have journeyed through couples therapy over the past few years, I’ve discovered something transformative: when someone's actions trigger us - whether we label them as selfish, immoral, or difficult - we're often seeing shields. Even in our own relationship, these behaviors are protective armor for deep, vulnerable wounds that sometimes we don't even recognize in ourselves.
Now, when my husband or anyone else's actions stir frustration in me, I pause. I remind myself that I'm only seeing the surface - their armor, not their story. My reaction shifts from 'How dare you?' to 'I wonder what happened to you?'
This shift doesn't excuse harmful behavior. Instead, it frees me from my own reactive patterns. The irony is that most people, including both my husband and me, aren't always conscious of our protective shields - these patterns run so deep, buried beneath years of self-protection. Through therapy, we're learning that uncovering them requires deep courage and a willingness to embrace vulnerability. I'm profoundly grateful for my husband's courage in this journey - for his willingness to challenge his long-held thoughts and beliefs, and most importantly, for his openness to being vulnerable. Yet, sadly, many men have been socialized to avoid the very courage that healing demands.
Questions I'm Exploring
As our students continue exploring self-worth this month, I invite you to reflect on these questions with us:
1. As we enter darker days, cultures around the world honor the role of light within the darkness—such as in Diwali. What does "light" mean to you?
2. We’ve all had times when we’ve dimmed our light to fit in. Think about a moment when you felt different or stood out - what beautiful parts of yourself did you tuck away? What gifts have you hesitated to share?
3. What challenges are you grateful for? How did you overcome them? How have they shaped you in unexpected ways?
A Student's Response That Inspired Me
Six-year-old Aneesh shared a beautiful reflection in response to the first question above:
Without darkness, you wouldn’t be able to see light. And without light, you wouldn’t know there was any darkness. You couldn’t see light shine on its own, but if Ms. Natasha turned off all the lights and shone her phone’s flashlight, it would shine brightly and make the dark room brighter.
Ms. Natasha and the students then discussed how, even though light and darkness seem like opposites, they are deeply connected and balance each other.
As always, if this resonated with you (or didn't ;), text or email me at 562-384-7827, Amna@AmnaDance.com. I'd love to hear from you.
Warmly,
Amna
P.S. 🎉 Get Ready! Mr. Varun is bringing his Hip Hop vibes to Tustin & Diamond Bar this Winter! 🕺✨ Stay tuned for more details—and check out his moves in the video below! 🎬🔥
Comments