Another Bridge

This e-card magically popped up on my phone one Sunday morning, apparently when I needed it the most. It’s from the app for Louise Hay’s Power Thoughts deck; lovingly recommended.

This post takes place as I’m living in my new place just over one month’s time. My sister Lisa and I moved from our wonderful home in Cagli (which we both miss) and she has returned to the US. Now I am flying solo, in the town of Gubbio ... and just this week I received my Italian passport !

When I first arrived at my new home here in Gubbio, I didn’t feel thrilled to be in truly, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. As I left our beloved Cagli, everyone first asked when I was coming back (how much did I love that ;) and then they swooned at the mere idea of Gubbio – the food, the medieval wonderland that it is, the art culture here, the glorious Cappucini Spa Hotel ...

Allora,si’, I’ve done well to land here. Add that to having an apartment right next to some of the most angelic human beings on the planet - the Italian-Brazilian agents who helped us complete our citizenship. I feel like part of their incredibly beautiful family. Walking distance to everything I need, amongst rolling green hills and the bluest of sunny summer skies, suddenly finding wild rosemary and sage growing outside my door ...

What could possibly be the downside with all of the above??

For me, another in-between. Like when I kind-of-lived between France and LA, this feels like more starting-stopping, packing-unpacking, acclimating-re-acclimating, settling-unsettling, hellos and inevitable sad goodbyes. I do really, truly love living on the continent and, I very much want to just settle and park it, but I’m not there. Yet.

There are lots of unknown hows that I can worry about if I try. I don’t love admin-y details, and there are those, as a new resident of a new country. I mix up my French and Italian, how will I ever make new friends? How can I really feel at home in a space that’s not mine and only temporary? I miss my sister and I feel sad and lonely sometimes, which is very unusual for me.

One day in between tears, I watched an interview of Sting from a few years ago, about his latest album called The Bridge which was entirely produced remotely via Zoom, during the 2020 pandemic lockdown. A dose of Sting always makes this girl feel better.

Sting suggested that perhaps everyone is between two worlds, between two states of mind, stuck in the middle of something ... we haven’t gotten there yet.

We all need a bridge.

I loved that this was shown to me right then and there. I wondered how to navigate what feels like this bridge, and started reaching out in prayer and meditation, for some kind of answers.

Allora. What I’ve learned (not so surprisingly ;), in this first month of another new beginning, is that She – whom I call DI ;) for Divine Intelligence ... and all of Her angels, all of my ancestors, spirit guides, all of those on the other side who love me ... want to be that Bridge for me.

They are lined up to help me arrive safely. I don’t have to know how, where, or when. I just need to stay present, show up, and do the next right thing. One day, I’ll get to tell the stories.

I’ve been guided to follow my joy, listen for divine whispers and follow those leads, ask for help because it will always be there for me, share kindness because the world really needs that right now, be open to Life loving me ... those kind of things. 

Easy. Fun. Magical.

They promise that They’ll do the rest, and I have to believe Them.

I’m here to tell you that … it’s working.

I call this Grace. When Mama was passing and my heart was breaking wide open, I wrote stories about how I let Grace hold and carry me. Maybe one day that will be a new book ;)

For now, I would just love for all of us to consider what bridge we may be navigating right now. Let us all be open to the Grace that wants to hold and carry us through this passage, as we are lovingly and safely guided to our next landing.