SpiritedSouls

One of the things I have been working on for the last oh.....15 years of my life......is building a community. It occurred to me one day as I was walking the kids home from Tulip Grove (our local school) Every day, we smiled and talked with the crossing guards, the gentleman that was always sitting on his porch stoop with the lovely rose bushes, the elderly lady at the Senior Center who would sit outside when the weather was nice and of course, all the other kids and moms walking from school. I didn't know most of their names but when you see their faces you know they are part of your community. I used to have that song from Sesame Street humming through my head:

Tell me, who are the people in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, In your neighborhood....
Who are the people in your neighborhood?
They're the people that you meet when your walking down the street,
They're the people that you meeeeeeet eaaaaachhhhhh dayyyyyyy!

I used to be so happy to see them all, "how you doing??? GREAT!!!!" Of course, the kids grew up and started going to other, further away schools or didn't want Mom walking them to high school so that little pleasure sort of went by the way. We joined a church and became part of that community but it is more like going to work instead of just saying "how do you do?" I love it. But it's not the same.

When Sheree, Lori & I started Spirit & Self Discovery, it was mainly for this reason. To create a space for people to build community. To hang out, to let our eyes meet and smile. Unfortunately, it was very complicated creating space so this sort of evolved into SpiritedSouls, the little partnership that Sheree & I are building. This has been tremendously wonderful. I really feel like we are doing just what I have dreamed of.... building a neighborhood of souls....a community, one in which all are welcome, all are valued and it is not exclusive....it is just a joyous space. Sort of like our Yoga space...when you walk in, everyone has gotten to know one another on a very real level and they welcome new people and eventually we all start doing yoga which sometimes feels like the commercial in the main show, you know? It's a wonderful fellowship, that's the main event in all of our offerings. I'm loving it.

Yesterday I had the bright idea that we should all begin to support one another's endeavors the way everyone has supported Sheree & I. So I created a page on my website just for our SpiritedSouls birthdays and events and pictures. I can't wait for this to grow! I think it will be really cool--sort of like our own little neighborhood newspaper where we can all keep track of each other and go to each other's stuff when we have time.

Like: Did you know Jami is singing at the Old Bowie Town Grille on March 20th? And there is no yoga that night so guess where we'll be? (It's after Maundy Thursday services, I think, I hope!) Won't it be cool to join together and cheer her on?

Let me know where YOU'LL be and when your birthday is-- I'll be happy to post it. First names only of course. I'm excited about this! I think it's gonna be great fun :)