"He
does not seem to me to be a free man who does not sometimes do nothing."
Cicero
Spaciousness
"I
need more space in my life." The answer arises spontaneously when, at the
beginning of class, my yoga teacher asks what we need. I am surprised by the clarity
of the answer and the intensity of the longing. It's clear from the response of
the class that I'm not the only one who feels that way. I want a whole day of
uncommitted time. Later, when I review my calendar for the upcoming two weeks,
I can find no day I can block out just for me and nothing but space.
So how can I make more space in my life? Can I schedule time for myself in smaller
blocks of time, an hour, an afternoon? Can I breathe more space into my day, into
my being? Can I slow down and do less? Can I practice moments or small blocks
of time of just being, to accomplish nothing, to practice non-doing? Can I intend
to make space for meditation on a regular basis, even if it's only 10 minutes?
Someone once told me that it's better to meditate for 10 minutes than not to meditate
for an hour.
Can I practice being present in this moment, to allow my
experience to be more spacious? Unresolved conflicts hold me in the past. Worry
pulls me out of the present into the unknown future. Can I savor the joy of the
moment, be in my body now, let go of the past and the future, make more space
in my mind, my emotional body, my psyche, my being? Can I take a moment to listen
to the birds singing outside my window, breathe in the sweet spring air, and be
grateful for each moment of my life?
How about turning down a social
invitation occasionally? Can I actually decline an obligation for a change? Dare
I feel free enough to refuse someone's expectations of me once in a while?
Am I able to re-arrange my priorities so that I can sit and read a book even
when there is housework to be done? Can I bear to be less efficient? Can I not
think about the laundry, allow myself some free time for play, for rest, for communing
with nature or navel-gazing? Let go of my need to be busy, take a walk with a
friend, have a cup of tea and lap time with the cat.
Am I willing to
make myself a priority and dedicate a whole day to my own Well being on a regular
basis? Do I dare to face myself and surrender the myriad distractions even for
a short while? How much of the frenzy of doing is habit and how much is addiction?
How much do I succumb to the cultural pressure to do more and do it faster?
I realize I have offered more questions than answers. Perhaps we need to
continually question our priorities, our intentions, the way we choose to spend
our time and energy. Maybe we can start a conspiracy of contemplation, decline
co-dependency and refuse to rush headlong through life. Serenity as a radical
act. How much is the quality of my life worth to me?
Namaste,
(Honor
the Light within),
Sue Redding
"Let there
be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between
you" Kahlil Gibran
"The past is history, the future is a mystery,
and this moment is a gift--that's why this moment is called 'the present'."
Deepak Chopra
"Ordinary men hate solitude, but the master makes
use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe."
Lao Tsu
"Our life is frittered away by detail - simplify, simplify!"
Henry David Thoreau
"The most painful state of being is remembering
the future, particularly one you can never have." Kierkegaard
"The
reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself."Rita May
Brown
"Trying to be what others want us to be is a form of slow
torture and certain spiritual death." Unknown
"what good is
it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"Mark 8:36
"Be
where you are, otherwise you will miss your life." Buddha
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