UNSTUCK by Nancy Alder

After weeks of being unable to move forward and feeling trapped by my small community and aspects of my life I got stuck at home in Blizzard Nemo.

 I was not figuratively stuck, like I was in my professional life, but rather literally stuck at my house.  We were buried in three feet of snow and unable to leave for 48 hours until our plow guy came.

Surprisingly the freedom that came from being unable to leave gave me great wisdom about what was keeping me paralyzed in my career. The softness and freedom of the snow was inspirational, and the confinement with my family a gift.

This poem was a result of the weekend, the snow and its wisdom. I feel less stuck. I feel lighter and focused. I appreciate what I am and what I have to give.

 I am finding my wings.

unstuck.

the floating snowflakes

dropped weightless to the ground.

the roof, the grass and the roads

were soon buried under their mass.

steps were tough, driving impossible

leaving was not an option.

i was stuck.

the glue came not via the snow,

it was from fear to move forward.

fear of the unknown is heavier

than three feet of wet snow.

fear of failure is more paralyzing

than the unplowed driveway.

heaviness, stickiness, stuck.

snowflakes celebrate their uniqueness and

glide effortlessly in their own ways.

it is as if snowflakes are made

of feathers and a blizzard is their wings.

the road reappeared and the snow is melting,

and because of the snow I feel less stuck.

i have learned from the snowflakes

to release the hesitations and fear.

i am finding the lightness in my own feathers

i am appreciating my uniqueness and offerings.

i am trusting that i will soar and land softly.

I am finding my wings.

i am unstuck.

Photography by Allison Tentelman

Nancy Alder is a 200H E-RYT yoga teacher in Connecticut. She teaches her students to appreciate their unique gifts through anatomy, community and humor. She writes for many yoga sites and on her own blog Flying Yogini where she encourages her cyber sangha to find their wings.  When not teaching or writing she is reading about yoga and Buddhism, in awe of her elves, laughing with her guy and counting the days until the next snow fall. You may connect with her via facebook here or twitter.