I was reading somewhere (perhaps WSJ online) how painful this past decade has been for the U.S., bookended by 9/11 and the economic downturn that has been compared with the Great Depression. Most of us don’t wish pain on one another, but if it is there, at the very least, we ought to look at it. I don’t think that pain can be judged good or bad. It is what we do with it that really matters. Over this past decade we became more introspective, we learned to come together, we questioned how and why we do things, we woke up angry, afraid, hurt and sad, and we demanded change. I believe that this past decade offered us opportunity for awakening, connection and healing.. the expansion on which we will take into the New Year.

When I think about my life and the times I grew the most, it was when I was most in pain. To take it a step further, I, of course, historically had not made this connection well enough to understand and recognize when the pain as opportunity for growth was not my work to be done but someone else’s. In these cases, I became the great Rescuer. I have  learned a huge lesson- stop getting in other people’s way. Or my own, for that matter. See the other person from his highest Self- her greatest potential, and it is the best gift I can offer.

The New Year is a wonderful gift of ritual that gives us opportunity to reflect on, & let go of, the previous year..then to look into, and create space for, new possibilities in this coming year. It gives opportunity to make an upgrade in our current software. Or create a whole new one.

For me, it has been a busy, busy year filled with change. To hold myself accountable to my growth in spite of myself, and in the busy-ness of my life, I have managed to create visions, goals & timelines for myself, one variation of which is up at Lululemon Evanston. I’ve created a more extensive set of goals with the help of a powerful group of allies, and I have a 30-60-90 day action plan written with my most amazing and tireless business partners. Then I had a week of slowing down between Christmas and New Years to be with family, exhale, connect with friends… and do more yoga. The holiday season so generously offers us time between Thanksgiving and New Years (or at the very least the one week between Christmas and New Years) to turn off cruise control and change our pace a bit. I realized during this window that I want more friendship time. In addition to increasing my income. How to achieve this delicate balance? Certainly, I have more space in my life if I am not busy meddling in other people’s businesses, uh, rescuing…right?

The day before New Years Eve, I taught a yoga class, and a dear student reminded me that, at this time of year, I have historically asked my class to allow the one word to come up during practice that would guide them throughout the coming year. That one word would become their mantra for 2010. As an aside, I am sad to say that I forgot to do this with my class last week. So I will do it this week. As for me, my one word will be SYSTEMS. To create impeccable systems in my life so that I may better manage all that I am already blessed with, offering greater stewardship over my gifts, in hopes that this will allow me more mental space to create PLAY in all that I do… and embrace more friendship time.  Om Shanti.

What is your one word?