Looking back at this time last year where I was finishing off 2023 in Bali with clear intentions of making 2024 a year of celebration, travel, love and restoration I can say unequivocally I have made that happen. Every month I had the privilege of local, interstate or international travel. I took every opportunity to get my health on track and now in full remission, cancer free and more energetic than ever. I opened my heart to love and met and un-met many beautiful men, still single, but that’s another blog story. I spent quality time with friends and family. Laughed, danced, and rejoiced every sunrise. Taking the time to slow down and sometimes do absolutely nothing was not as easy as it sounds. Doing nothing is a challenge because nothing is actually something. A quote from the great Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh summarises my 2024 wrap up perfectly:
“ People should learn how to just be there, doing nothing…it’s not so easy to just be. If you can be happy, relaxed, and smiling when you’re not doing something, you’re quite strong. Doing nothing brings about quality of being, which is very important. So doing nothing is actually something”
In this time of “being”, of slowing down and deep listening I achieved more than I could have imagined. I certainly felt my spirit strengthening and the clarity of vision surfacing. The energy propelling all my actions and in-actions was super charged. I published two books available on Amazon. I landed a dream job teaching theatre and performance studies which I absolutely love. I completed my second year of Vision Quest and deepened my work within the Shamanic Practitioner Apprenticeship. I ran women’s circles, created social media videos and started my own YouTube channel (which was completely out of my comfort zone). I connected with so many creatives here and abroad. Found myself at events, festivals and random parties…all the excitement and adventure of life when you start saying yes and being open. What an amazing journey it has been!
The space in-between the known and the unknown is where I have spent most of 2024. Really trusting and allowing spirit to lead me. And noticing how quickly things fall in and out of place when I did that. This is what living without attachment feels like. One of my dearest friends shared with me that ‘detachment’ is not about letting everything go, it is about having all the doors open and simply being in the moment of each experience rather than curating it all or controlling it. Sounds simple, yet my over-thinking mind gets in the way sometimes. Nature has a way of keeping that monkey mind in check that’s for sure.
My 2024 highlight has been my daily humatay – connection and communion with nature. Being in the ocean, greeting each sunrise and connecting to my inner being. All those hammock days staring up the sky and watching the change of seasons. In that stillness finding myself again, allowing the light inside to shine, brighter and stronger each day. Every moment is the gift of life. And to live it well means to hold on to no-thing. Allowing every experience to float in and out of focus and be in the joy of it all. That has been my take away for 2024. Practicing how to love and show up for myself. Practicing how to choose me in a good selfish way.
I am so thankful for all the humans that have been part of my life, the new connections and the synchronistic conversations. The re-connections from people of the past and the enduring connections that have strengthened. I have learnt many important lessons this year. Here are a few in summary:
I can achieve more by doing less
Organic forgiveness is returning to the moment before the wound
Talk less, listen more
Nature has all the answers
A prayer is the recognition of the infinite possibility of life
True love is free
You are what you seek – everything is from the inside out
The heart speaks softly and does not judge
Connection needs attention
The hardest person to love in ones-self, and mastering that is mastery of love
No feeling is final
We are all struggling, let kindness be your superpower
Your peace is your power
There is a plan that you can’t actually plan for
It takes strength to be soft
Thank you 2024. You have shown me that no matter what happens I will always choose love and kindness. You have shown me how to forgive and set myself free. You have shown me how to step into my feminine power. You have shown me how big my heart is and my capacity to love and be loving. You have shown me the ocean of tears that flow out in my pain, in the collective pain and silence between those tears to heal every cell in my body. You have shown me the meaning of friendship and connection. You have shown me the joy of travel and discovering people, places and things with my beloved children. You have shown me what I can do when I focus my intention into direction. I have really enjoyed the laying down of each brick of my new foundation.
I breathe you in 2024, with gratitude and I breathe you out with gratitude. What has been can no longer be and I release it all. I now make space for the next cycle for 2025.
Thank you all for your engagement with my work and support.
May the closing off of 2024 be magnificent.
With much love and light,
Nazanin Marashian - LOVE & heART 