Christmas Message 2024

Dear friends,

What a year it has been! So many ups, so many downs. If I’m to sum up the year’s learning into a single sentiment it would be that the roller coaster helped me redouble my efforts to find the ever-present calm beneath the waves - meditate, practice gratitude and kindness, take care of my body, mind, soul, laugh often, and surround myself with people that inspire me. I hope you too found a way to ride the barrel or dive underneath the waves of 2024. 

A few highlights (and lowlights) from the Matlock home this year include:

After finishing fifth grade at Montclair Elementary school with flying colors, Tulsi was accepted into the Arts & Communications Magnet Academy (ACMA) for middle school - a local charter school in our district. She is one semester deep into her potentially seven years at ACMA (6th-12th grades) and has made many new friends, enjoyed a 4-day sleepaway camp, and has an amazing set of teachers who are passionate about their subjects and all adore her. As we do too!

She also played her first season of soccer, performed in a dance recital in downtown Portland, and completed her first solo in the Ananda World Brotherhood Day concert singing The Christ Child’s Asleep. She’s looking forward with great excitement to her first role in an ACMA production titled Pandora’s Box this winter. We’re so proud of the ways she’s stretching herself.

Jay finished his first year of public school with gusto and has had a fantastic start to his 3rd grade year. He wins awards for his perseverance and has a wide circle of friends who love him…plus his teachers think he’s the bee's knees. And they’re right!

He had a blast with his first season of winter basketball and two more seasons of soccer (spring and fall). Unsurprisingly, our little Doogie Howser is kicking our butts at Scrabble with his constant bingo’s (7 letter words that earn 50 bonus points) and his uncanny knowledge of all 2 letter scrabble words. Watch out! Finally, with the arrival of the Trowbridges, Jay is reunited with one of his besties Henry who has joined him at Montclair Elementary along with little brother Daniel. The Ananda Portland family ministry is now 13+ kids strong and so full of joy!

We took several special trips as a family - Klamath Falls with the Lewis and the Kaufman families, Ananda Village for SRW, Monterey to visit McGilloways, the Oregon coast to surf with friends and another time with a gaggle of Matlocks, Orange County to see Badri’s mom, auntie, siblings, cousins…we’re heading out in a few days for our first trip to Zion National Park for a winter wonderland adventure between Christmas and New Years with my parents, brother, and Christian and Jaya Salisbury from Ananda Village.

As many of you did too, we had some very difficult goodbyes this year. We lost our dear Gpa Mike, Jaimie’s husband, after a many years battle with cancer. We also had to say goodbye to two special animals in our lives - Chi and Boon. Chi went to a nearby stable where Gita can still visit him weekly for grooming and rides, but she is no longer his formal steward (financial reasons). After many dangerous situations, our rescue dog Boon was evaluated by the Humane Society and found to be too aggressive for a family home. We were heartbroken. 

I’m glad to report that six months later, we cautiously took the leap and adopted little Leela, who has turned out to be the best puppy in the world. She brings snuggles, giggles, and joy into the Matlock family home beyond anything we could have hoped. 

As for us grown ups, Badri formally became co-Spiritual Director for Ananda Portland and I became a Lightbearer Minister. I also had the honor of offering two equine assisted learning events - a women’s retreat in southern Washington and a TeachingHorse event in Portland. My work at Born Free continues to be challenging, rewarding, and full of creativity.

Meanwhile, Badri led a men’s retreat in southern Washington and a pilgrimage to Yogananda sites in southern California. His Ananda Portland team has welcomed Srimati and added many new and inspiring offerings. Our Ananda Community is growing every single day and deserves a letter all on its own.

And of course, on a global scale, we all experienced Voldemort winning the US election (again), so we’re digging deep to maintain inner peace and support ourselves, family, and community through round two of his reign. I'm sure we will swap useful strategies to maintain a sense of peace, love, and hope throughout the next four years.

At the end of the day, as I look back on the huge growth and learning our family has experienced this year, I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the ways we faced our tests. Gratitude for the ways we leaned on each other and cared for each other. Gratitude for the ease we found in the moments of quiet. Gratitude for the incredible adventures we shared. Whatever the future holds, it is made sweet by the love we share with each other and with you, our friends, in ways both big and small. 

Thank you for being part of our community.

Love & Blessings,

Gita

P.S. You may have noticed that I've stopped my regular writing practice. I plan to change that in 2025. No excuses. My practice of writing simply fell away this year for the first time in 13 years and in honor of the winter solstice, the returning of the light, it is back!