Unfinished

The notion of ‘unfinished’ gets a bad rap — I see it as an infusion of hope and possibility during times of rough waters

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I was recently gifted a beautiful old painting of personal significance from a dear friend. It touched my heart for myriad reasons, but that isn’t what I want to talk about today.

Aside from loving the artwork — the colors, tones, brushstrokes, textures, and the simple framing — the mighty ship sailing the open seas of deep shades and moody waters with no shoreline in sight — there was something unique I had never seen before. The artist signed the painting in the top right corner and then painted ‘unfinished’ in the top lefthand corner.

‘unfinished’...hmmm.

Of course, as I daydreamed and languished over this beauty, I began to ponder this notion of what it means to be ‘unfinished’. For me, it’s actually a refreshing take on life, infused a gentle sense of promise — more time. The friend who gifted it to me also recognized and appreciated this notion that there is so much more to do, life is unfinished. And to some extent we are all on a journey on the open seas — clear blue skies one day, tumultuous waters the next. 

Timing is always divine, isn’t it? This was gifted to me at a moment when many around me are going through challenging times, standing at crossroads, charting new territory, making big decisions, pivoting, letting go and making way to let in.

These situations land hard on my heart when it comes to the people I love. I feel saddened and worried, but then I remember, it is not finished, the story isn’t finished and maybe, just maybe the next chapter will be so much more glorious. 

I reach for this feeling and lean on my faith. It grounds me and helps me recalibrate.

Let’s face it, we’re all unfinished in our own ways. That infuses a sense of hope for me because it creates room to grow and become more of what we want to. I don’t know about you but I’m always curious about MORE.

I want to learn more, see more, hear more, travel more, taste more, heal more.

More doesn’t feel greedy or ungrateful. It’s the opposite. I want to become a better version of my flawed and imperfect self. I want to learn from you and share with you.

‘Unfinished’ whispers possibility and opportunity. It reminds us that the story is not yet fully written. It reminds us to bend and flow. Like the painting, sometimes our sails are full of forceful winds traveling at highspeed and sometimes we are deflated, without breath, motionless, sitting in the stillness of it all. Life avails us of both.

I work hard to ride the waves of life each day (and mark my words, running a restaurant has given me quite a bit of experience in this department). I never know what wave might hit me on any given day. But I lean on my faith, and I have my go-to strategies for recalibrating when I feel knocked off my center.

God knows we’ve been knocked off center repeatedly these past years. It seems like each time we move through one world event, there’s another barreling down right behind it. It’s a lot. But we can only handle so much and take on so much.

That’s not denial. That’s discernment. When I feel rocked, I try to refrain from getting into the conversation and creating more pollution. Instead, I get quiet. I sit in stillness. I witness my feelings. I pray. I observe. I pray. I pray. I pray. And I try to keep my heart soft and available.

As my bestie always reminds me, we are each our own full-time job. I laugh when she says it, but it’s so true. How we relate to self is how we relate to the world.

Each morning as I open my eyes and stare out my window with a vista of the glorious Overlook Mountain here in the Catskills, I am graced and astounded by her beauty. I give thanks for the fresh mountain air, all the furry and feathered friends around me (inside my house and out), for the chance to create our café, to serve nourishing food and to commune with beautiful souls. Yes, I am blessed.

Hey, I don’t like disappointment any more than the next person but think about times in your life where you reacted to something in a way in which you hadn’t. Maybe you went kicking and screaming. Maybe you wasted a lot of time worrying or feeling anxious. Maybe you couldn’t lean into trust in the moment. 

Cut yourself some slack. Hindsight is seen on the other side looking back. I certainly didn’t see everything through the rose-colored glasses I now wear. But I’ve lived through enough to trust in God and my ability. Together we are unstoppable. 

We must remember that we bump up against perceived endings all the time. But endings are also beginnings. Just because something ends...doesn’t mean the story is finished.

What if endings are really just unfinished chapters redirecting us to see something new?

Life is always pulsating around us. People move. Friendships morph and change. Marriages end. Babies are born. Houses sell. Traditions change. Kids go to college. We make career moves. Life knocks us off our feet with illness and heals us. There is always another chapter ready to unfold, a new story to be written.

Now I know that sounds all poetic; living it and experiencing it can feel quite different. I’ll admit, I don’t like things to change. I don’t like letting go of routines or people, but it is at times of transition I know to lean on my faith and to trust that I will get through whatever is before me.

My heart hurts for our planet right now — it’s noisy, unkind, divisive and cruel. I’m not judging how others are choosing to show up. I just know that for me I have to keep looking for beauty, the kindness in humanity and believe that we are all on this path of unfinished business — that we will find meaning in this mess.

I reflect every day upon this one question: How can I show up better today than I did yesterday?

And let’s be clear: That’s no easy task. It takes conscious effort. I’m human. I get triggered. I get scared.  I also know it’s the only path back.

I pray for grace, wisdom and strength. I pray for the soul of our collective humanity. I pray that I am guided each and every day, through each and every encounter to be better, do better, love better. To be a better mom, friend, boss, community member, and human.

Yep, I’m ‘unfinished’ all right. And like I said, that gives me a sense of optimism in a season of oppression. I’m going to keep showing up. Care to join me?

Is there something stirring within you that feels unfinished?

Is there a place you’d like to do some repair work maybe in a relationship?

Is there something you are ready to let go or let in?

Remember, this is your unfinished painting...so paint away dear one.

—Lea Haas, Owner, The Garden Cafe Woodstock