Last night was gorgeous. The sunset was hot pink and the air was fresh. And as I pulled into my neighborhood, I saw a bunny hop across the driveway. I grew up in Arizona, where bunny rabbits hop all over the desert. But I hardly ever see them anymore, and I’ve never seen one here.
Happy New Year to me. (And yes, to you. Of course to you!)
So it’s January 1st, and I see a bunny hop across my path. For some reason, that feels big to me. Like it means something auspicious and symbolic. Or I want it to. Which is pretty much the same thing.
And it reminded me of something beautiful I read and loved this week about bunny rabbits. And I remembered that they symbolize life and rebirth and fertility and innocence. And new beginnings. (I’m going to breeze over the association between rabbits and, ahem, flirtatious frolicking. Blush.)
Which all reminds me of the heart of this year, and my wish for connection, friendship, community.
And so I have this idea.
What if bunnies can be a reminder? Sure, I can be conscious about creating connection in my life. But it’s more fun if I can be playful about it, too. So I can remember my wish for connection anytime I see a bunny. And I can laugh when I notice one unexpectedly or in some unorthodox rendition.
I can pause and remember: Connection is on the way. Shiver. And, yum.
If the idea of a some grand message from the universe is way too woo-woo for you, I totally get it. That’s not really what this is about. Sometimes, for some of us, we can choose to see it as some kind of possibly-maybe-wouldn’t-that-be-cool divine sign. And that interconnection can be thrilling.
But it can also work just by planting the seed in your mind. Kind of like looking for your friend in a crowded theater: You know she’s wearing a bright blue shirt and so suddenly that’s all you’re noticing. Because that’s all you’re asking your brain to notice.
Delightful little perk.
If I’m always thinking about how I want more connection, sometimes I might get stuck thinking about lack of connection. And slip right into loneliness or sadness. (Emphatically not the delightful part.) Okay, now for the delightful part: Looking for the symbol instead of the thing you want so much can help balance any icky emotional charge.
For whatever reason, I just can’t get worked up about a bunny shortage.
And so the whole idea of setting an intention or making a wish… It doesn’t have to be all I want, I need, I have to have. Because that can invite a bunch of resistance. Instead, our attention can be light and easy, full of hope and delicious anticipation.
If you made a wish for 2010, is there a symbol that could remind you? Or do you have ideas for other ways to weave reminders into our lives?
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This is such a good idea. I’ll have to see if a symbol pops into my mind. I don’t know if I need one for joy, but I could use one for connection because that is one of those things where – when I start to wish I had more of it, there is sadness in that thought – and it is easy to forget what I do have so I can focus on that instead.
Ooh! I love this.
The first symbol that came to me was the ocean. Standing right at the edge of the water. And looking at the ocean go on forever.
But since I live in Ohio, I don’t see oceans a lot.
So take two brought me a hawk. Who can just kind of coast on the wind. Super chill. Super free. Super awesome.
I see a lot of hawks. So yay!
And a double yay for bunnies!
Thanks for another post of much fabulousness.
Resistance…AGH! Definitely a topic I need to explore, because I’ve got a whole lot of it going on about now. But who can resist bunnies? Certainly not me.
I’ve got it! Stars. (To remind me that I want to connect.) When I see Orion for the first time each winter, it feels like an old friend is back. Whenever I see a single star, I make a wish – that everyone’s (either everyone in general or everyone I know) dreams come true. All of that reminds me of friendship and love – which is really the point of connection.
Oh, thank you for this idea. This is just fabulous.
Hawks and stars and bunnies! You guys are so much fun. And I’m so happy you’re here.
@Fabeku: Super chill, super free, super awesome. Just reading that feels like a long drink of cool, pure deliciousness.
@Sarah: Oh no, resistance is the worst. So sneaky and frustrating. Hope it hops away soon.
@Elizabeth: Stars! Love that so much. And your old friend, Orion. Sigh. That is just so warm and cozy sounding. And so is connection… yay!