In the Inner Advent quest for meaning, the first activity is recollecting the outer contexts of your year.  We are beings of our times and understanding the elements of our outer existence and narratives that impact our inner life of selfhood can be very revealing.   

I suggest we consider the following contexts:

1. World Events: These are the political events of the year that have impacted your experience of being a citizen of the world. We have had a year of wars, political extremes, etc.
2. Nature: From your garden to climate change, the world of Nature has been filled with delight and terror. 
3. Work: What changes have happened in your work life. Not just how you earn your living but how you use your talents in the world.
4. Finances: Have there been any developments in your financial well-being?
5. Health: What health events in your body or the body of those close to you have been challenging or supportive?
6. Relationship: Have any of your intimate or social connections altered, ended, or begun? 
7. Home: Changes in your physical home environment can impact your inner home, even when an object you love gets broken or lost.
8. Culture: Did any books, movies, music, museum visits or any other culture events or experiences brought joy, insight, or despair?
9. Tech:  Yes, technology has a big impact, even buying a new hair dryer, stove, or watch can change your life.

The Gift of Weirdness in a Pink World

This morning I was lying in bed thinking about these outer contexts. I found myself focusing on culture, particularly a movie, the big hit of the year.

Barbie, the movie, I had no interest in seeing but a number of friends started asking me what I thought about it. So I went. 

Pink is not a favorite color, but I loved this pink movie. It is an amazing production, brilliantly conceived and directed which made it great Hollywood, but with Inner Advent, it’s my soul I am contemplating, not Hollywood. 

Barbie impacted my sense of self and offered a wonderful picture of the joy of suffering in order to be fully human. All of Barbieland and all the Barbies are perfectly pink but one, Weird Barbie.  Weird Barbie is wise about the purpose of suffering and the need to evolve, break free, and take risks.  She knows there is more to life than pink. She is the Sophia of Barbieland and she is marginalized because she is not pink.  

I am a Weird Barbie. Are you?  

I saw Barbie the first time with a dear friend who is 88 years old.  2^nd time with my 9 year old granddaughter. All three of us loved this film and we love our weirdness.

It is a sign of our evolving times that a film like Barbie could be so successful. If you haven’t seen it…give your weird soul a pink gift. 

Enroll in the Inner Christmas Journey and begin with Inner Advent. 

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