EM-BRACE /em'bras/

Verb: To hold someone closely in one's arms, especially as a sign of affection.
          To accept or support (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and enthusiastically.

This word embrace has been the topic of many conversations I have had with people in my circles as of late. I have had this word in my head since the end of January. I have looked it up in the dictionary just to see what it looked like written out and to know the origin. I heard it used again in a conversation this afternoon while talking to my son's drum teacher, so I decided to get the thought's swirling in my head on to paper.(My new creative outlet)

It's funny to me that the word has been said so much in conjunction with my hair experiment. Embracing my true hair color. Embracing the silver strands that are invading my dark brown and red highlighted hair. Oh, it's a hot mess to say the least and it's only been six weeks since my last color. To say that I am in this process enthusiastically right now is an overstatement for sure.  Don't get me wrong. I'm very willing and enthusiastic about the end result. But the process so far is well....kinda ugly.

I've been hiding the calico combination under hats and headbands whenever in public, except for my hour of fitness. Whether teaching or taking a class, this is the place where it shows. I simply choose not to take Tae Bo(R) in a hat. It would feel too restrictive for me (I may be changing my mind in the months to come). I have found myself though, taking a deep breath as I'm about to walk in the door for fear of what others may be thinking about the roots that are clearly not being dyed. It is SO crazy how emotional this whole hair color thing is for me. A big fear is that I will look older than I am.....and that is funny because it is a big birthday year for me. I'm fearful that this new color choice is my one way ticket out of "Youngsville".  I'm fearful because I OPENLY guessed someone to be 10 years older than they were based somewhat on their hair color. Yes I did!  Is your face as red as mine at the mere thought of saying this to someone??? It's my "60, 50, 40, 30" story......
I was volunteering some time to help out one of my besties for a program she was running. A woman approached me and we struck up a conversation. I don't remember all the details of the conversation but I do remember her saying, "These birthday's with a zero really sneak up on you." I said very enthusiastically "Oh sixty?" She answered back "Sixty?" "Fifty."  I seriously wanted to crawl under the desk from where I was standing. I had no where to turn, so I blurted out "60,50,40,30" "It's all the same."  All the same??? Oh my gosh!!! I don't even remember if I apologized. I'm having a little anxiety just telling this story! (Intermission Please)

One thing that IS the same with these numbers is that we all run from embracing the new decade of our lives. The new seasons, even if it's momentarily.  I have the most beautiful friend turning 30 soon and last year at 29 she was having a hard time realizing this was the end of her twenties.  I remember that feeling when I was there. That birthday for whatever reason was harder than the next decade to follow. I eventually learned to embrace it.

 Back to the word "Embrace." From the Latin word in 'in' + bracchium 'arm'. Literally taking in arm. It seems to me that when I think of others that I love, the word embrace seems so loving, so positive. I'm all in!  When I think of it in terms of what I need to embrace, be it age, health, weight, marraige, parenting, occupation or even silver hair, I am much slower at being all in to the new season I need to embrace. I can even allow it to seem negative.  I absolutely  love the synonyms for the word embrace: Welcome, accept, adopt, and my favorite champion. I want to champion all the changes in my life. For me, I want to show myself that silver hair has nothing to do with becoming old, giving up, and not wandering much past my front door.

One of the most practical ways to embrace/champion the stages of your life is to remain creative. Remain active. Remain open to new things that you may have fear of trying. I love the quote from Theodore Roosevelt "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Who cares if you have never done it before, who cares if you may not be as good as you think you should be at it. Just try something creative and new. Be vulnerable and courageous!  I read two anonymous quotes today that made my heart happy. "Creativity is a way to replace negative thinking with positive reaction." Positive Reaction. I like it! The second being: "Creativity often takes practice to find and put to use." You may try something and find it is not for you at all......but at least you gave yourself the gift of experience. You practiced finding your creativity and the art of being vulnerable. This weekend I'm taking a certification for DIO(R) Dance It Out. You see...I don't really dance that well. It's big time vulnerability for me, but I will be with my friends. I will have fun. I will learn something about myself and keep myself creative. I am created to be creative by the Master of Creativity himself. An image bearer of God. The creator of movement.....so I can't go wrong.
Acts 17:28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

One thing I know for sure as I'm closing in on yet another decade is this: Embracing never ends. It's is an on going process. New seasons, new hope, new joy, and even new sadness.  I hope to  champion the ones that lie ahead much more quickly than the ones I have before. To feel my feelings, live in the truth, and trust the process to God. Thankful to be a work in progress.