"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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