Lemons in Life

New Year's Eve I shared a story about a citrus fruit, its sweet and tang, the juice of life itself. I told a very full living room of about 40 people after a shared spaghetti dinner about an orange savored by a Chinese prisoner dropped by a guard-- a story I'd heard on NPR over a decade ago that still holds space in my heart.

He hid and savored that orange, its bright color, thick skin and fresh orangey smell... until he needed to share it, revealing to his prison mates weeks later what he had found. The bright color against the winter bland was striking.

He then carefully tore off the peel of the fruit and passed it around for each person to savor a very small bite. "The juice", I recall him saying "was exquisite to the point of overwhelm!" Something so simple was so profound. That touched my heart.

Each prisoner saved a piece of the peel of that orange as a reminder that better days will come. He smelled the peel each day until it had no smell left to give.

Thankfully, one day, they were all freed. That little orange helped them through. For me, this story became a mindfulness practice.

I grew up in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh. As a youth we were taught to always bring a gift; a song, a poem, a quote, a bloom-- something to bridge the gap between people and to lighten the space. This practice shows in everything I do. I'm grateful to Elizabeth Swope, my youth group leader and mama from another mother. She taught us kids well.

As I was packing for this New Year's UU beach trip, I wasn't sure what to bring for my gift for the shared spaghetti dinner on New Year's Eve. I thought of many things but none seemed right-- until I went to visit my mom's lemon tree.

I clipped three fresh plump lemons and brought these, leaves and all with candles for our beach hotel room and one to share for the gift.

That night, to a group of nearly 40 people, I shared the story of the orange in the Chinese prison, the hope it gave for a brighter future. Then passed my mom's lemon around for each person to hold and savor, scratch and sniff. A very tender moment.

Then I performed a miracle! (...of sorts) I sliced one single lemon into thin pieces, enough for all, and passed it around. Everyone got a taste of the new year! Sweet, tart and bright. We ended with singing "Dear Friends", one of my favorite songs in a round. It was a lovely experience, a gift for all!

Consider your "lemons" as you enter a new season, a new year.

• What's sweet here to savor?
• What's tart that's worth recognizing and letting go?
• What's bright and worth leaning into?

Answers are everywhere! Want/Need support for your new path? Happy to help! Schedule a call with me. Mention this newsletter and get a special new years credit on your next coaching session or class! Many blessings for a great new year, sweet, tart and bright!

Love and light, Annelies ✨

Annelies M, Gentile, MA, PCC is a Visionary, Integrative Life and Leadership Coach, Speaker, Process Artist, Facilitator and Author of From Chaos to Calm :: Leading Change from the Inside Out, an invaluable guide to resilience— sense, solace and sanity for our rapidly changing world.

From eliminating burnout, stress and overwhelm to nurturing ideas, momentum and transformative leadership to tending grief associated with change, Annelies helps you traverse the gaps of uncertainty with courage, creativity and grace.

Services include:

• Executive Life and Leadership Coaching
• Creative Consulting
• Engaging Keynote Speaking
• Retreat and Workshop Facilitation
• Interfaith Ministry

Expertise: Integrative Health and Wellness, Resiliency, Transformative Leadership, Conflict Transformation, Imposter Syndrome, Compassion Fatigue, Change Management, Creative Process, Expressive Arts, Team-building, Positive Psychology, Mindset and Mindfulness, Spirituality, and Grief.

Schedule a call with Annelies now!