Gratitude

How amazing to be in Budapest. Last time I was here was 5-6 years ago- different time, different space, different place. The air quality tonight is amazing- everything pin sharp against dark clear sky, graced by the presence of a full moon. How amazing to have spent the last few hours with Ray, someone I met at Nova Scotia a few years back; how amazing to have met Christina again- she was at the Open Space event here last time I was in Budapest- she has just returned from five years away from here- her home. So I have a sense of 'returning' and in that place of 'returning' also a sense of opening and something new. Interestingly, Ray is not the Ray I remember- in Ray I feel strongly a sense of movement and I am reminded of the currents and flow of life. I didn't recognise Ray at first and it wasn't until we spoke for a bit that I started to realise that I had met him before. I approached Ray with a question which rose up in me as I stared into the blue-black wash of the boat, glimpses of silver-grey dancing and tumbling under the bright full moon, surrounded by beautiful, historic, majestic buildings- I asked him 'do we choose the life we lead or do we simply live a life that is presented to us?' I am still pondering this question as I type into existence, whispers of thoughts that drift, like smoke, in and out of my mind. I was also with the feeling of deep gratitude- for the clients, family, friends, teachers and colleagues past and present- who have brought me to this point, now.