Post - Kara Folkerts

yeeew, it’s been a good while since I’ve written and quite honestly, I haven’t felt propelled to in the slightest. but here we are now.

to start off, I want to preface this post while acknowledging the privilege I speak from. unravelling parts of my own privilege in greater depth, I think this is an important note to add and continually unpack and learn from to better utilize for the good of all people.

when I reflect on 2020, it’s easy to hyper focus on everything that went ‘wrong’, the things that fell through, and how challenging it’s been for everyone on a global scale.

back in mid march as the pandemic hit, while living in costa rica and getting ready to kick off our sustainable living retreat, we quickly realized it was going to be cancelled (hello, closed borders). flying back to canada abruptly with the impeding doom of the ‘world ending’, forced to quarantine in my parents basement, and days later learning I was laid off of my upcoming guiding job from the pandemic, I felt completely out of my depth. this whole pandemic thing was proving to be something far greater then we could have ever anticipated. feeling incredibly lost and disconnected I kept telling myself ‘day by day’. fast forward to the later part of the year as covid continued with a tight grip, I continued adapting to new situations and environments simply trying to stay present to it all. insert a devastating heartbreak, actively unpacking some heavy emotional baggage I’ve carried from my past and facing some of my largest inner demons into the mix and it’s safe to say it’s been a fairly bumpy ride.

but 2020 has also come with some of my greatest joys, moments of profound growth, healing, and insights I would have never understood if it wasn’t in light of all these moments.

I spent the first part of the year in guatemala and later with some of my closest costa rican family and friends, fell deeply in love with an amazing human, worked as a guide taking small groups of trail runners in the mountains to run and play, moved to a new community on the coast and connected with some of the raddest humans, witnessed incredible healing through my yoga practice (and continue to do so now), invested heavily into my mental and emotional health (which has continuously proven to be immensely challenging yet profoundly healing and meaningful work), and am ending off the year cozied up in the warmth of my parents home before moving south in the new year with a close friend.

I won’t say my story is special. it’s unique to me, of course, with my own experiences, memories, and takeaways but it’s been a year of unravelling for all of us. covid took us for a loop. no doubt, everyone has been faced with challenges in one way or another. with endless uncertainties, continually adapting to new situations, and learning to surrender. it’s safe to say, we all need to extend an enormous amount of grace for ourselves and others and acknowledge how far we’ve come.

my biggest takeaways

the little moments in life matter

when the pandemic first hit, everyone was baking sourdough bread, reading their favourite books, playing music on their apartment balconies and finding joy in growing their own food. it’s evident that these simple moments have a big impact. calling your oma, writing letters to loved ones, fresh air and moving your body, connecting on the most intimate and raw level with the ones you love, telling your friends how much they mean to you, snuggling your pets, cooking your favourite meals, and feeling the sunshine on your face. do it all, do it intentionally, and never take the simple moments in life for granted.

you are enough as you are in this very moment

our worth is not tied to the things we do, accomplish, or achieve. the way we look, our background, what we own, our jobs, our bodies, or how we choose to live. let me say it again. you are enough. you are enough. you are enough, just as you are. no questions asked.

many of our societal systems are broken

just because things have been one way for so long doesn’t mean it’s the right way. ask questions, use your voice, and stick up for what matters. continually educate yourself on the climate crisis, white supremacy, mass consumerism, patriarchy, and know that unlearning is essential for our growth. “normalize changing your opinion when given new information” - tyler elise

feel your feeling

feel the highs, but also feel into your lows. it’s okay to struggle. for the majority of my life, I’ve tried to disconnect myself from uncomfortable emotions instead of sitting with them - both consciously and subconsciously. I like to be happy, but pushing aside other emotions only ‘helps’ for so long before you’re stuck trying to navigate your way out of very murky waters. now, I’ve been looking at my shadow sides straight in the eye. has it been easy? hell no. it’s been some of the scariest and toughest personal work I’ve needed to tackle. but instead of avoiding difficult emotions, I’ve been giving them a seat at the table and asking what I can learn from them. it’s been incredibly challenging, but also continues to be one of the moment profoundly healing practices I’ve done for myself.

simply put, be kind

with so much hurt, pain, grieving ,and unrest this year, the need to extend kindness and compassion runs deeper than ever. instead of attacking others with hate, criticism, or anger, meet them with respect and an open heart. you don’t have to agree with everyone, in fact, you shouldn't. but it doesn’t give you the right to treat another human poorly. remember, you can’t beat hate with hate. so love on all humans. everyone has struggled in one way or another and you may never know how far a simple smile or act of kindness can extend. ps. this kindness should always be given to ourselves as well (I’m actively working on this one!)

impermanence

if we weren’t gently reminded of this in 2020, we were certainly slapped across the face with it. life flows in constant motion. moments, people, and experiences come into being only to dissolve. practicing non-attachment to outcomes, expectations, people, and circumstances is vital for our mental health. holding on only creates a deep resistance to the inevitable flowing current of life. letting go and allowing changing to come with open arms makes way for healing, releases unnecessary tension and stress in the body, and allows for a more open and clear mind.

the challenges we’ve all inevitably gone through at some capacity won’t simply vanish with the promise of a new year, but if anything, these challenges gave us greater resilience and insight, a bigger picture perspective, and reminded us to always be so full of gratitude. let’s continue moving forward with an open heart, full of compassion for all people we meet, continue learning, adapting and understanding, and truly extending grace for ourselves knowing we’re doing the best we can.

xoxo.

it's been a year