"Follow your bliss"

In 1994, I was searching for a more spiritual way to live. A friend told me about Rockhaven so I went to visit. Sr. Cristella (now deceased) was there and my friend and I talked quite a while about an upcoming woman's sabbatical in July of that year, the first time Rockhaven had offered that. Because it lasted 1 month, and I didn't think I could get off of work for that long without being fired from my  job, I got up to leave, very disappointed. As I was leaving, Tobias and (oh, I've forgotten her companion's name this minute!) came in. Tobias asked me if I was going to join them for the Sabbatical, and I replied "I don't know how I can, without losing my job." She raised her eyebrow and said "Well, sometimes, you just have to follow your bliss." That moment, I knew I had to do so, and signed up. The month introduced me to meditation, along with a multitude of ways to move more deeply into both my soul and the soul of the world. I did some ongoing therapy and later had Tobias as my Spiritual Director until she died. Her picture is on my altar and I feel I receive ongoing support from her. That month felt like a "launch" into the deeper life I knew existed but didn't know how to access. I'd felt "unsupported" most of my life, but from that time I found one support after another. At the time, I was 55 years old, so I want to tell everyone who thinks they've somehow "missed out" that it's never too late to begin a new life. And you will find what you need if you indeed, "Follow your Bliss."

Oh, my boss (who was an alcoholic) did want to fire me but circumstances prevented that and, in fact, I was named the salesperson of the year while I was at Rockhaven. I'm told he put his hands in the prayer position above his head, when he made the announcement and hummed, "Hmmmm, Judith, can you hear me telling you you're #1??"  I retired from that job in 2002. Life is good and getting better.

Thank you, Rockhaven, Tobias and Christella!
Judith H.