Why do I make it so difficult for myself?

Please tell me I’m not alone in taking the more difficult path?

Perhaps like a recent Landscaping Your Life (LYL) walker I prefer the paths not signposted rather than taking the path others have already taken and signposted so others may follow. (Which by the way, was a HUGE insight during the LYL session which opened them up to new insight about the situation they were using the walk to uncover new perspectives about.)

You see, it would have been so easy to either do a solstice newsletter or a happy 2nd anniversary to my Landscaping Your Life with Alison Smith podcast (Spotify /Apple ) newsletter.

But no – let’s try and combine the two - and do both!

Here’s what’s emerged – It’s perhaps useful to think of a situation you’d like more insight on before reading further and then applying the insight or even listening to the episode in question that resonates the most to enable you to see the situation differently and uncover what’s hidden from view.

Or perhaps gather a selection of your own landscape images from Solstice's across the years and explore the patterns you notice within them, and then apply insight they provide to the problem you’re grappling with.

Solstice, that time when the earth is at it’s maximum or minimum tilt from the sun with the sun not changing its setting or rising time for a few days – much like the pause between in and out breath.

A pause that episode 18 of the podcast translated into “It’s ok to do nothing” (Apple / Spotify ) and translated into the shortest episode at less than a minute long.

My favourite image from winter solstice was taken in June 2007 whilst visiting Uluru in Australia. This shot of the monolith was taken at sunrise from the sunset car park and meant I had the car park to myself.

A reminder perhaps that we can’t always see everything about a situation until we “shine some light on it” – whether that light comes at the end of the tunnel (#24 Apple / Spotify ) or from getting to a higher vantage point (YouTube ).

Despite the gorgeous Uluru shot the one location I’m most likely to be for sunrise for solstice is the local beach here in Burntisland - although winter’s sunrise is at a much more reasonable 0845 compared to this week’s 0426 (even if there is frost on the ground then)!

The testimonial someone left for the treading water episode of my podcast was they felt like they were in the water with me (#23 Apple / Spotify ) with one insight to stop the never ending treading being to lie back and float. ( With one person’s solution during one coaching session being to attract a boat and ask for help so the boat could take them where they wanted to go – which is a great antidote to all that energy sapping treading.)

I do love a solstice visit to a stone circle such as these on Orkney. Although this year I hope to visit Castle Rigg Stone circle, nr Keswick in the Lake District as I travel south to visit my mum.

Which if a little tangentially reminds me of when I embodied in an episode ‘being stuck between a rock and hard place’ (#22 Apple / Spotify ). Where the insight was about not giving up. Where progress may be denied for 345 degrees of the situation but that still meant with a little patience we’d notice the 15 degrees where progress was possible.

Building bridges was the theme for episode #26 (Apple / Spotify ) where the insight I’d like to share is related to when we feel like we’re talking to a brick wall and being ignored – because it’s useful to remember that that brick wall might just be one side of a bridge we’re already building to improve communications.

I hope something piqued your inner wisdom’s interest – do let me know if so.

Although if nothing I’ve shared here has resonated please do have a look at this index of podcast episodes and pick a title that resonates – because life is too short to give up on your dream and stay stuck in that rut.

With much love for Solstice

Alison x

Although I think my favourite episode has to be 'putting the stick down you’re beating yourself up with' (#29 Apple /Spotify /Youtube ).

And here’s a GREAT testimonial I’ve had recently about a wonderful virtual Landscaping Your Life walk I did during lockdown – a great reminder I don’t need to be in the same place as you for you to get the insight you need from me asking questions of a landscape you’re walking around in.

Due to me spending a little more time at mum’s at the moment face to face session’s are not only available in Scotland but also Staffordshire/ Derbyshire and Cheshire.

Sessions start at 15 minutes and then range from an hour or two to a half or whole day.

Do get in touch if you’d like to find out more [email protected] +44(0)7770 538159