• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Connect
  • Donate
  • Join
  • Login
Story Circle Network Logo

Story Circle

by, for, and about women

  • Home
  • Events
    • Spain Writing Trip
    • Members in the News
    • Opportunities
  • Classes
    • Online Classes
    • Webinars
    • Enroll
    • Propose a Class
    • Propose a Webinar
  • Book Reviews
    • Story Circle Book Reviews
    • For Authors & Publishers
    • Author Interviews
    • For Reviewers
    • Review Team
  • Publications
    • SCN Journal
    • Our Substack
      • True Words from Real Women
      • StoryCraft: Writers Write About Writing
      • Submit a post
    • Real Women Write anthology
      • 2024 Anthology
    • Member Library
    • Story Circle Books
    • Flash newsletter
  • Book Awards
    • Sarton & Gilda
    • Guidelines
    • Sarton Application
    • Gilda Application
    • Past SCN Book Award Winners
  • Contests
    • The Story Circle LifeWriting Competition
    • The Story CIrcle Poetry Competition
    • The Story Circle Online Writing Competition
  • Resources
    • Circles Program
    • Roundtables
    • Opportunities
    • Member Library
    • Media
  • About
    • About SCN
    • Member Benefits

December 20 – Opening

December 20, 2021 by Christine Hassing

In late spring we completed a home renovation that included an office setting change. When our renovations were still in the winter of ideas, I felt an inner twinge when my husband suggested an office relocation. What? No! My creek views! 

Perhaps you can relate to those twinges that whisper "this is change" and call us to begin our dance of grace between opposites. Do we want to change what we know and embrace curiosity and excitement? What would a new setting be like? It could be fun to create a new space. 

Or do we believe where we are is already ideal? The view inspires me. Nature is my messenger guiding my communication daily. What about the “not to be disturbed” door I can close?

Our dance of grace between the opposites of life flows. We are continually brought to choices to step left, right, straight, or forward every 86,400 moments each day. A continual motion of our reactions and our actions based on the location of our mind and heart. 

If I move from a small, enclosable office space to one that is expansive and without boundaries is it like stretching from a cocoon with my own butterfly wings?

I am blessed to have two terrific co-workers who hold up mirrors for me to better see. Both are excellent communicators and it is such a rarity if they speak loudly or harshly. They are inspirational, motivators, game for anything. They are rain, snow, sleet, or shine co-workers, willing to run outside no matter the weather before our workdays begin. 

They are alike, and they are different, too. One acts as office manager keeping watch for who might try to distract me. The other is more social and sees interruption as an opportunity to do something out of the routine. One models “stay the course” and the other likes to blaze new paths. She explores with determination, patience, and without fear takes a few risks or a leap into the unknown a time or two. 

One is more introverted and serious in her approach. She also puts others first, her desire is to please. The other lives according to "everything is joy" and "listen first to your own authenticity", and though she too has a desire to please, she first honors her true being. 

My coworkers—aka dogs—are guideposts in my graceful dance of life learning. As I move further into the open, they guide my dance between steadfast grounding in the comfort of now and joyful curiosity to explore unchartered possibilities. 

I sit in my new spacious office and affirmation graces my view. Momma deer crosses the yard morning and night with her two babies. One baby stays close to mom, grounded in their rhythmic routine. The other is the trailblazer, exploring nature’s new sights and smells.

I would have seen glimpses of momma and her fawns had my office stayed where it had been but I would have missed seeing differently. I would have missed the joy of opening my wings. 

 

Christine is a writer, published author, life and leadership mentor /trainer, adjunct professor, an advocate of cold noses as healers, and a champion of unconditional listening and hope. To find her additional writings: “Good News” a monthly Michigan newspaper publication, books via Amazon, blogs at https://Christinehassing.com, and previous SCN anthologies. When Christine is not joyously writing, teaching, and mentoring, she immerses herself in Nature and time with friends, family, and two cold noses (dogs).  

Filed Under: Christine Hassing, True Words from Real Women

Primary Sidebar

hoye-orig

This blog is coordinated by author, photographer, and gardener Linda Hoye. Find her at A Slice of Life.

Subscribe

Get new posts in your inbox!
Loading

Archives

2009-2019 Archives

This blog is written by Story Circle members.


Not a member? Go here to join.

Contributors

  • Amber Lea Starfire
    • February 1 - What Happens When You Write 20 Minutes a Day?
  • Ariela Zucker - View Blog
    • To Walk With Stability
    • Not Doing is a Form of Doing
  • Carol Newman
    • June 26 - Cascade
    • June 5 - Trains, Planes, and Automobiles
  • blatter.carol
    • I Met Nurse Ratched
    • November 8 - My Mother
  • Barbara Scott - View Blog
    • February 12 - LOL Before Divorce
  • christinamwells - View Blog
    • May 31 - The Hairbrush
  • Christine Hassing - View Blog
    • December 20 - Opening
  • Carrie Steckl - View Blog
    • April 4 - Let’s Love the Good in Others
    • Five Minutes on Sundays
  • debradolan1958
    • Wedding Dress Whim
    • March 13 - Museum of Broken Relationships
  • Diane
    • Walking Through Fear
  • Doris Clark - View Blog
    • May 24 - Dad's Home Again
  • Dorothy Preston - View Blog
    • December 6 - The Rutted Path
    • August 23 - Ghosts of Rejection
  • Lisa Droz - View Blog
    • July 27 - The Seat Next to Me
    • June 29 - Pay Dirt
  • Girly
    • November 2 - A Morning
  • Heidi Schwab-Wilhelmi
    • November 22 - Piano Days
  • Judy - View Blog
    • December 12 - Numb and Puzzling Grief
  • Jeanne Guy - View Blog
    • July 20 - Under Water
  • Jeanette
    • A Clouded Mind
  • Janice Airhart - View Blog
    • October 19 - The Broadmoor
  • Joanne Martin
    • April 12 - The Last Time
    • November 2 - Helping Hands
  • JSchecterZeeb
    • D-Day June 6, 1944
  • Kali - View Blog
    • March 29 - When Life Hands You . . .
    • May 10 - A Newfound Friend
  • B. Lynn Goodwin - View Blog
    • August 3 - Notes From an Exceptional Terrier
  • Linda Hoye - View Blog
    • We've Moved
    • September 12 - Just Lily and Me
  • Len Leatherwood
    • July 6 - Love, Color, and a Bit of Surprise
  • LWatt - View Blog
    • October 18 - In-Between
    • January 31 - Hail Oh, Hail
  • Marian Beaman - View Blog
    • You Found Your Glasses Where?
    • June 14 - Right Thing Too Late
  • Marilea Rabasa - View Blog
    • Walking Through Cancer - Part 13
    • Walking Through Cancer - Part 12
  • marthaslavin - View Blog
    • December 30 - Unfinished Year 2020
  • Michele Kwasniewski
    • November 29 - Hanging With The Big Dogs
    • May 6 - Happy Birthday, Mom
  • Melanie
    • May 18 - Infusing Hope
  • Monique - View Blog
    • February 7 - The Answer
  • Nancy Oelklaus - View Blog
    • September 6 - Life Goes On
  • Lisa Hacker
    • August 30 -The Great Book Purge
  • repak.t
    • Switching Creative Gears
  • Sara Etgen-Baker
    • Talking Aprons
    • You Had Me At Pumpkin Spice
  • simonandrea - View Blog
    • February 22 - Words Are My Life
  • srick18153 - View Blog
    • April 2 - Sarah and Wally Go to Space Camp
  • Story Circle Network - View Blog
    • April 19 - My Mother's Kitchen
  • Suzanne Adam - View Blog
    • July 13 - COVID Roller Coaster
  • suzy beal
    • April 26 - The Culling Year
    • January 18 - Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
  • Wentlin
    • August 24 - Uncommon
    • July 6 - An Exercise in Being Human

Footer

Subscribe to our Substack

Her Stories: Writing Craft & Community

Story Circle Network Logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Classes
  • Publications
  • Book Reviews
  • Growing Together
  • Connect
  • Donate
  • Join
  • Login

Copyright 1997 - 2025  Story Circle Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy