You remember that old nursery rhyme, don’t you? No, this isn’t going to be a post about how words have power and we need to be careful how we speak, especially to ourselves (though it’s true and we must).
A place to pause and connect within; ideas for living sane in a crazy world
17 Jul 2014 Leave a comment
in allowing, body awareness, mindfulness, sacred living, self-care, spiritual inquiry
You remember that old nursery rhyme, don’t you? No, this isn’t going to be a post about how words have power and we need to be careful how we speak, especially to ourselves (though it’s true and we must).
10 Jul 2014 Leave a comment
My friend, does it feel as though you never have the time to do certain things? You know, those things you should be doing, like meditating and exercising and taking time to prepare healthy meals?
Well, here’s a dirty little secret — if you keep looking for the time, you will never find it.
You have to claim it.
For example, do you need to find time to brush your teeth? I’ll bet you do that twice a day without really thinking about it. Do you show up for your doctor appointments, your kids’ Parent/Teacher night, your best friend’s birthday? Those things are probably pretty non-negotiable in your mind and heart once they are in your calendar.
In much the same way, if you wait to find the time to feed your soul, it will keep slipping away. You have to claim the time to fulfill your deeper needs, or like an untended garden your soul gets choked with weeds and dries out from lack of water.
I figured this out once again yesterday, when I took a retreat day for myself at my beloved Omega Institute. I spent much of the time outdoors and had magical encounters with a garden snake, lilies, trees and even a few humans. I walked the labyrinth and meditated beside a small pool of water at the Sanctuary.
I let the energy of each moment show me where to put my feet next; what book to pick up in the shop, when it was time for a cup of tea, how long to stay in the center of the labyrinth. And came home with an expansive sense of contentment and acceptance that continues into this moment…
Without clearing a huge swath of time, it’s hard to access your natural rhythms. It isn’t easy to know what you need versus what you think you want, what it is that you truly yearn for. There was a plaque near the Sanctuary that mentioned yearning and offered this definition:
Yearning — a tender or urgent longing motivated by love.
What do you yearn for, that you know deeply nourishes your being and brings you to a natural state of love? When was the last time you gifted yourself with it? I invite you, no, I implore you, to claim the time and do just that.
Plant your flag — own your ability to declare what you want for yourself and take it. Everyone who depends on you (or you think you owe your time to more) needs you to do this too. Taking a stand for you encourages others to take a stand for themselves.
What will you discover when you do? I’d be honored to hear about it in your comment here.