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Tom Garcia

Mar 06 2023

I Want To Hibernate

I Want to Hibernate

human hibernation syndrome

This has been a long winter. And I love winter—snow shoeing  through the woods, packing a sled in the bracing cold, and making fires at night.

Winter also comes with the urge to be in a cocoon, to turn inward like a bear in hibernation—or head south for the winter. 

The primitive desire to slow down goes back to the distant past when we followed the rhythms and cycles of nature. In the winter it was practical to lay low because food was scarce and physical movement burned precious calories.  

The orientation of our culture tends to ignore nature. 

As Nature Slumbers

While the natural world slips into the dormant winter months, the civilized world goes into overdrive for the holidays, followed by a headlong dive into first quarter productivity goals. Meanwhile nature slumbers on, the earth turns and follows the sun without calendars, holidays, or goals.  

It’s no wonder we feel rundown, exhausted, and make ourselves sick. We’re unconsciously driven to go against our own nature and the cycle of nature we are in.   

Symbolically, the winter season represents death and darkness. The death of nature is a metaphor for the death of the self, a time to let go of the past, of reflection and introspection, a time to take stock and contemplate the future. 

Renewal and Rebirth

The spring season which follows is the symbol of renewal and rebirth. The revival of nature is a metaphor for the renewal of the self, a time to embrace new beginnings and new growth, a time of hope, optimism, and the inspiration that comes from new life blooming all around.

Right now, we are on the cusp between winter and spring.

Ash Wednesday, which was on February 22nd, marks the start of Lent, a period of meditation and reflection that ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection and a symbol of ultimate renewal and rebirth.

The 40 day Lenten period has its origin in the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted by the devil before beginning his earthly ministry. This period of fasting, prayer and self-denial was adopted by the early Church as a way for Christians to prepare for the celebration of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus.

There are always larger cycles at work in our lives—the movement of the earth, sun, and moon, the change of seasons, the rituals in our culture and other cultures. Many traditions celebrate the concept of death and rebirth. The symbols are everywhere around us. 

Awaken Together

As the famed comedian, George Carlin, once said, “Symbols are for the symbol minded.” We are symbol minded. Everything we see, all that we think, say, and do, are symbolic of deeper meaning. Words are but symbols of symbols. Our actions are a symbolic reflection of how we think and believe. How we live is a symbol of what we value and what matters most to us. 

We give everything all the meaning that it has for us and our lives are a symbolic outward expression of who we are.

As we transition from winter to spring and move through the Lenten season, we can be contemplative and intentional. As we experience our own rebirth and the rebirth of life around us, we can bring deeper meaning to the transformation being wrought in our own lives. 

There is a great need today for us to awaken and be in alignment with the forces that guide us, to live in harmony with ourselves, each other, and the natural world.  

For each of us the process is deeply personal, and the way we engage our process—how we integrate change—touches the lives of those around us. 

We awaken into new life together.

Written by Tom Garcia · Categorized: purpose

Feb 14 2023

Our Little Secret

Run from what’s comfortable. Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious. I have tried prudent planning long enough. From now on I’ll be mad.― Rumi

Recently, I was in the hot seat on a mastermind call. A “hot seat” is just like it sounds—your question or concern is the focus of others in a group who offer their collective wisdom and insight. 

Such intense scrutiny is both uncomfortable and incredibly valuable.  

The hot seat helped me to see something just beyond the edge of my awareness–a blind spot. I was both curious and determined to bring it out of the shadows and into the light of awareness. I began asking myself, why was I holding back? What was holding me back? Gradually, fear came to light. The fear of being judged, criticized, not accepted–the fear of rejection. That I’ve worked on this before didn’t matter. There it was, again, and once again I began to look to see where I was afraid to be who I am–afraid to be me. 

I know it sounds absurd, but ask yourself, “Where are you afraid to be you?” 

[Read more…] about Our Little Secret

Written by Tom Garcia · Categorized: imposter syndrome, overcome fear · Tagged: fear, fear of rejection, overcoming fear

Dec 21 2022

Well done, Humans. Well done.

I am blessed to have amazing neighbors with a gifted son named Connor. They shared this story with me recently and I loved it so much I asked for permission to share it with you. Enjoy.

Experiencing Un-Asked for Kindness


If you’re anything like me, the absence of the sun can really start to do a number on you this time of year.

[Read more…] about Well done, Humans. Well done.

Written by Tom Garcia · Categorized: purpose

Nov 24 2022

Gratitude: Being Complete with the Past

Gratitude Being Complete

Did you know????

“You can’t love your kids and worry about them at the same time…” 

The first time I heard that, I was thinking what you’re probably thinking right now… what do you mean I can’t love and worry about my kids at the same time? Doesn’t worrying about them mean I love them?

Of course you love your kids. Of course you worry about them. But love and worry, draw from two different energies. They are two different vibrations, two different frequencies. It’s like trying to listen to disco on a country radio station. It can’t be done because they’re on two different frequencies.


Gratitude and Worry

Worry is focusing on what you don’t want to have happen. It’s setting a negative intention. 

So, as our kids were growing up, I re-trained myself. Rather than say, “Be careful!” I’d say, “Have fun. Be safe. Call your dad.” In this way, I oriented them to a different focus: one that communicated trust instead of worry.

The same is true of gratitude. You can’t be grateful and worried, or grateful and upset at the same time. They’re different vibrations, different frequencies. The universe knows the difference and doesn’t respond to words alone, it responds to your vibration.

[Read more…] about Gratitude: Being Complete with the Past

Written by Tom Garcia · Categorized: purpose · Tagged: gratitude

Nov 16 2022

Deepen and Strengthen Your Connection

When we lose someone close to us, we have an opportunity to reexamine our beliefs, ideas, and constructs around death–and life. Our approach to death says something about our  approach to life.

Death gives us an opportunity to look deeply into life, to question what we value, and what we need to let go of to live fully. 

There are several questions that come alive at the fire:

Who are you? Do you know who you are?

Why are you here–for what purpose?

Who sent you? Do you know–really know–Who sent you?

Why Am I Here on Earth?

Deepen and Strengthen Your Connection

At this point in my life, I’ve lost both parents, aunts and uncles, several cousins, and many dear friends. Each passing gives me pause to consider my own existence–always a sobering self assessment.

In the fall many years ago, I made a fire and stayed out all night after a close friend had passed away. Everything I believed about life and death had been turned upside down and my life felt like it was unraveling. I was experiencing a sense of profound loss and something else–a burning desire. 

Beside the fire I stood cold and alone with hot tears in my eyes. 

[Read more…] about Deepen and Strengthen Your Connection

Written by Tom Garcia · Categorized: purpose · Tagged: deep listening

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