Bathed in warmth above the muck

The holidays have come and gone. Memories have been made and alcohol has been consumed.
And here I am, during the first week of a new year, a new decade, and a new path in my life, feeling a new sense of spiritual calm.

I feel like a lotus flower who has finally overcome my battles to bloom and be bathed in the warmth of the sun.
The intense symbolism of the lotus really helps me feel at peace with this new calm that has washed over me. It helps me understand that even during the hardest of times, we have to just keep pushing through because one day it does pay off.

According to Wikipedia:
"In Buddhist iconography, Buddha is often represented on a pink lotus. In Buddhist symbolism, the lotus represents purity of the body, speech, and mind as if floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire. It is also to be noted that most Buddhist Chinese, Hindu, Japanese, amongst other Asian deities are often are depicted as seated on a lotus flower. According to legend, Gautama Buddha was born with the ability to walk and everywhere he stepped, lotus flowers bloomed."

According to an article by Chris Ryerson:
"The lotus flower starts as a small flower down at the bottom of a pond in the mud and muck. It slowly grows up towards the waters surface continually moving towards the light. Once it come to the surface of the water the lotus flower begins to blossom and turn into a beautiful flower."

While lotuses may not bloom from where I walk, I do hope I help bring others above the water to find their new beginnings.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and continue to have a joyous year full of blessings.