GLENISE HARVEY

For the last twelve years I have chosen a word for the year. These are words that represent what I would like to be more of, have more of and live into. This year my word is “Tranquil”. The past decade of my life has been anything but that. Leaving my marriage, transitioning from a career in Education to a leadership role in the family reinforcing steel business, opening a not for profit Art Gallery, losing my father and my step father within weeks of each other, doing life during a global pandemic ... it has felt a little like I have been cartwheeling and back flipping in a Cirque de Soleil performance with my hair on fire. Last year’s word was “Ease” and when Covid hit I had a WTF moment. I boarded a plane on March 11, 2020 for New Zealand to visit my youngest son. When I landed, I found out a global pandemic had been declared. I was to have been in New Zealand for 21 days and instead I came home 9 days later to a silent city and two weeks of quarantine. That same month our new rebar fabrication facility in British Columbia started operating. None of this was occurring to me as “Ease”. But when I got to the end of 2020 and I reflected on the year, I came to the realization that much of it had not been “easy”, however, all things considered, “ease” had been present. It showed up in all the amazing humans I am blessed to do life with. Family, friends and co-workers brought ease and grace to the not so easy situations that we encountered together, in turn helping me to show up with ease.

When it came time to choose a word for 2021, I struggled to land on one. I tried on a few, but none caused a vibration in my soul. Then at some point in early January the pull toward “Tranquil” started. The image came to me of a stormy ocean. I saw myself dive into the water, but I didn’t try to swim, instead I pushed down, going deeper and deeper until I found that place far below where there is stillness and silence ... that place “free from disturbance; calm.” Life is going to happen, and I can toss and bounce around on top of the waves or I can go deep and find my “Tranquil”. I own a mug on which is written ... “Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” I want to be the “Tranquil” that shows up in the midst of the noise, the trouble and the hard work. I want to bring “Tranquil” to all my conversations with my loved ones in my family, at work, and in my circle of friends. I want “Tranquil” to surround me in my home, our offices, and at my Gallery. I want to pull “Tranquil” into all aspects of my life, so whatever is happening externally I can go deep into that space where it is still and silent in my head and heart.

As you read this, I invite you to dwell on the word “Tranquil”. How can you personally be more tranquil in your life? Might meditation, going for walks, painting, golfing, playing in the park with your children, working on an old car in the garage, help you to be tranquil? What can you do to have more Tranquil in your life ... a fountain in the backyard, flowers in pots, candles in the kitchen, a fire in the backyard firepit, wind chimes on the deck? When you wake up in the morning think about living into Tranquil by taking a few minutes to review your day and visualizing yourself moving through every conversation, every meeting, every appointment, every situation, in a state of Tranquil.

With the global pandemic continuing to impact all of us in so many ways, the world desperately needs Tranquil energy to counteract the fear energy that is so prevalent. We can all do our part to intentionally create ourselves to vibrate at the higher Love energies and help humanity get through this with more ease and grace.