Day 91
Yesterday, Sally my flop eared smiler and I went for walk/run at dusk. I remembered as I walked to smile and look up. There really is much to be grateful for this season. For me, December has typically been a time of regret and pressing. I would find myself disappointed in my year, thinking I should have done more, been more, accomplished more, made more...more-more-more! I would rush around trying to buy gifts to send to family, decorate, shop, wrap and bake in a season of quiet.
It might be my practice, it might be I'm another year older and perhaps wiser. I don't know. I do know this year I feel at ease. I have found a love of this time of year that had eluded me in the past. My house isn't decorated, my presents aren't all wrapped and sent, my cards not completed and my house isn't that clean. And yet- and this is a drum roll moment- and yet I am surprisingly content and happy.
As Sally and I crested a hill yesterday we looked out into the sound and had to pause. The sun was setting, pink was painted across the sky with blue, white and gray in wide strokes. We stopped. We paused, looked and listened. The noise of my walking, my arms brushing up against my sides, our foot steps, breathing, my busy brain all came to a pause. The quiet was so loud! I heard birds and peace. It is hard to put words to this feeling of quiet. All I can really offer is a suggestion.
In this season of more, go outside and walk until you find a place of beauty. And then pause. Do nothing but stand perfectly still and absorb the moment. If you are looking for peace on earth you don't have to go far.
Wishing you a season of peace, contentment and the inner wisdom to know when to pause,
Denise
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Saturday, December 7, 2013
A shift in direction for the holiday season
Day #80!
And 80 days have moved through this practice. I'm find myself smiling without cause lately. As I move through the day, I will automatically remember to smile. And when I smile my whole body relaxes and I breathe deeper.
This year for Christmas you will not find me in the malls or off buying because I have a list. You may find me in the grocery store gathering supplies or in front of my stove creating.
For years, I have fought with my own spirit when it came time to shop and spend and ship and exhaust myself this time of year. Partly I think from a feeling of not having enough and partly because this time of year my energy/spirit/internal rhythm wants more TLC than any other time of the year.
The thought of just buying because I would feel guilty if I didn't seemed so superficial. The idea that I was separated from family and needed to buy a gift every year just to stay connected and so they know I love them does not fit well in my spirit.
Through this practice I have had a shift in Christmas gift giving. I am making most of our presents, except for an ancient recipe book I found and ordered online. But for the most part, I will be creating body butters, lip balms and skin healing creams to give. I will be whipping up batches of Ghee plain and maybe a few mixed with raw honey or cooked with garlic. I'm giving from my heart not my bank account or some misdirected guilt complex that shows up for Christmas.
When I create in the kitchen the very act makes me smile. I gain energy. I come from a place of creativity and abundance. When I shop I feel depleted, tense and poor. And so in the spirit of my 1000 day practice, Christmas like every other season and day of the year should be a gift of joy. And as I prepare to make Ghee this morning I smile because this gift is a gift from my heart. It is a gift I know will be given from the spirit of love and not from the guilt of not loving enough. Maybe I will spend more hours in the kitchen creating but I know I will spend less hours in malls and stores. Maybe I will turn on my own stereo and listen to the nutcracker dance, Maybe I will drink a cup of tea and snack on some homemade treat. Maybe I will invite a girlfriend over to play as I play. For creating is a way of playing and doesn't that seem wonderful to play through the holidays again???
And like most everyday since I have started this practice back on the 17th of September I'm so thankful for the grounding and consistency of this practice to remind me of my joys, my love of living and my gratitude for this day.
May your holidays, whatever they are, be a reminder of who you are deep inside. May the gift you are be enough this season. May you smile for no reason, breathe deeply and be content with your life as it is today.
Denise's ponderings on day 80
And 80 days have moved through this practice. I'm find myself smiling without cause lately. As I move through the day, I will automatically remember to smile. And when I smile my whole body relaxes and I breathe deeper.
This year for Christmas you will not find me in the malls or off buying because I have a list. You may find me in the grocery store gathering supplies or in front of my stove creating.
For years, I have fought with my own spirit when it came time to shop and spend and ship and exhaust myself this time of year. Partly I think from a feeling of not having enough and partly because this time of year my energy/spirit/internal rhythm wants more TLC than any other time of the year.
The thought of just buying because I would feel guilty if I didn't seemed so superficial. The idea that I was separated from family and needed to buy a gift every year just to stay connected and so they know I love them does not fit well in my spirit.
Through this practice I have had a shift in Christmas gift giving. I am making most of our presents, except for an ancient recipe book I found and ordered online. But for the most part, I will be creating body butters, lip balms and skin healing creams to give. I will be whipping up batches of Ghee plain and maybe a few mixed with raw honey or cooked with garlic. I'm giving from my heart not my bank account or some misdirected guilt complex that shows up for Christmas.
When I create in the kitchen the very act makes me smile. I gain energy. I come from a place of creativity and abundance. When I shop I feel depleted, tense and poor. And so in the spirit of my 1000 day practice, Christmas like every other season and day of the year should be a gift of joy. And as I prepare to make Ghee this morning I smile because this gift is a gift from my heart. It is a gift I know will be given from the spirit of love and not from the guilt of not loving enough. Maybe I will spend more hours in the kitchen creating but I know I will spend less hours in malls and stores. Maybe I will turn on my own stereo and listen to the nutcracker dance, Maybe I will drink a cup of tea and snack on some homemade treat. Maybe I will invite a girlfriend over to play as I play. For creating is a way of playing and doesn't that seem wonderful to play through the holidays again???
And like most everyday since I have started this practice back on the 17th of September I'm so thankful for the grounding and consistency of this practice to remind me of my joys, my love of living and my gratitude for this day.
May your holidays, whatever they are, be a reminder of who you are deep inside. May the gift you are be enough this season. May you smile for no reason, breathe deeply and be content with your life as it is today.
Denise's ponderings on day 80
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)