Wood Green

 Staying in London again for a few days of late October sunshine, I am once again reminded of the beauty and diversity of this cosmopolitan city. It's life and vibrancy are second to none. It is a joy for me to stay here in Wood Green, North London, a Greek, Turkish, Asian community that exudes warmth and a toughness that is humble and real, born no doubt from much risk and failure mixed in with the success of the families that moved here generations ago to open small grocery stores or restaurants, launderettes and kebab houses and they flourish today. It's in the air, making something from nothing. A pita bread filled with humous and salad is still the freshest and cheapest way to fuel yourself in lunchtime London for yet more walking. Walking is a great way to absorb the vibe and feel connected to this life that is so throughly amazing, it never ceases to amaze me how I landed here as a twenty year old Irish immigrant and  stayed for twelve years. A fluke decision brought me here (my then boyfriend was headed here for work, I tagged along) and twelve experience-filled years later a fluke decision took me away to the English Midlands and eventually my beloved Wales. 

And now here, again I appreciate the lessons and happiness that this area of North London brought me at the age of 25 when I lived on my own for the first time, started studying addiction-recovery, specifically healing eating disorders and  allowed myself to be embraced by the atmosphere of this Greek / Turkish slice of London. I savoured my freedom, I adored my studies and I met the father of my child here in this corner of London. He, of course, was an immigrant too. We all are, we all know how it feels to be an immigrant, we know the pain, we know the joy, we know that feeling of having a chance to do something in line with your own souls longing. You feel closer to your destiny as an immigrant and you take nothing for granted. 

I always will be an immigrant, an archetypal mix of warrior and rebel. I am never going back, for there is no going back, in truth, for all of us when life gets good there is no going back. Once you have tasted success, real success, devotion to one's own heart, one's own heart felt dreams become alive and take you onwards and upwards. Life is authentic, real and you can be at peace with yourself when you are aware of your own personal lessons that the curriculum of the very cosmos laid out before you to experience, learn and grow from, morphing into life expressing as its own unique you.

For further info on Sofia's workshops, classes and one to one sessions email sofia2227@gmail.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Integration

There is something about having healed a situation or trauma that empowers you.  Maybe you suffered from some abuse for example, a tone of voice or a manner that a parent had that triggers you to this day. If your spouse or a shop assistant or friend even, displays this same behaviour it can be very upsetting for you if you have not healed that original culprit. You may drink or overeat to numb the issue and carry on allowing that person to behave that way, you carry on being around that person never calling out that behaviour that may be rude or abusive to whatever degree. Either way you are  stuck in that situation with that person until you heal the original culprit, the parental behaviour that was your first experience or wounding of that kind.  So through giving up eating when full, drink etc and allowing yourself to be fully aware of how that behaviour makes you feel, if you feel it is abusive or rude or overstepping boundaries and even you may be dismissive of it a...
Read more

Awareness of the pattern

To give up any addiction successfully you do not have to abstain from the object of your addiction. In other words the first step in giving up any addiction (contrary to popular belief) is not about abstaining from the food when full, the drink or drugs, gambling etc.  The first step in to be AWARE of your pattern of behaviour.  That means you become aware of when the craving kicks in, and you become aware of your thoughts drifting towards indulging in the object of your addiction. You reach out for the glass of wine. You catch yourself arranging to have that cheesecake even though you are physically full. You reach for the cigarette or vape. This awareness then needs to be extended as it were, you need to be aware of how you are doing emotionally at that specific time the craving kicks in. In this awareness of how you feel emotionally comes the  ability to actually find an alternative means of coping with that emotional dilemma other than just suppressing / numbing it wi...
Read more

London

 At the end of another London trip I look back at the memories, sights, experiences and teachings with relish: Form the train to Richmond I see a large fox sitting on the sloping embankment staring towards the trains and I think of the ability to adapt to one's surroundings. The wild fox adapting to city life and thriving, after all, it really takes something to be able to live in London rent free. This tame landscape, moulded and shaped by human hand throughout the centuries. Beautiful iconic statues, fountains and buildings on lay lines of great power. Harrods, Fortnam and Mason etc. The lovely Indian family on the bus to Crouch End. The father answering his daughter's questions with kindness and genuine interest. The mother beaming with love for her child. My heart expanded witnessing such parental love. Again they adapted to being parents and devoting time and energy to their offspring. In contrast I moved train carriages when a father on the tube was trying to control his ...
Read more