Living in Uncertainty with Curiosity
It’s that time of year when we exchange cheerful wishes like, “Have a good holiday season!” Once Thanksgiving arrives, the holidays seem to rush into our lives — if they haven’t already. For me, these weeks often bring a touch of anxiety, whether it’s because I feel unprepared for the holidays, the new year, or simply not quite finished with the current one.
But this year feels different. I’m anxious to leave 2024 behind and move on, even though I can’t say I’m fully ready.
2024 turned out to be a tough year for me. Between a couple of unexpected emergencies (the saga of the water heater and a cat health scare) and a personal mental health breakdown, it’s been a challenging road. My business has undoubtedly felt the impact. And yet, I trust all of this unfolded for a reason. Times of low business have always nudged me to step out of my comfort zone, to network beyond my usual circles, and to get creative. Right now, I’m exploring some exciting new paths, both professionally and personally, guided by cues from the Universe.
Living with uncertainty — whether on a global scale or a deeply personal one — is never easy. But I’m learning to coexist with it, doing my best to avoid projecting fear or resentment into the future. Instead, I try to stay curious. After all, I’ve faced uncertainty before. I didn’t get deported back in the early 1980s when I was working illegally as a server at a Japanese restaurant during an immigration bust. And today, I’m still here in beautiful California — the place I once dreamed of living — now as a proud U.S. citizen.
Buddha taught the profound truth of accepting life moment by moment, without clinging to future projections or regrets about the past. If we can keep returning to the present moment, it all feels a bit less overwhelming.
I can do this.
We can do this.
Here’s a poem I shared in the meditation club this week:
For Presence by John O’Donohue
Awaken to the mystery of being here
and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence
Have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.
Receive encouragement when new frontiers beckon.
Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to follow its path.
Let the flame of anger free you of all falsity.
May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame.
May anxiety never linger about you.
May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.
Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift
woven around the heart of wonder.