So here we are at the end of 2010. A lot has happened in the past year. And I suspect a lot will happen in the year 2011. I, for one, am keeping a positive attitude about the coming year and looking forward to some new endeavors that I’ve been working towards these past months. At the same time I want to acknowledge the positive changes that have occurred in my life over this past year; things such as working out with a trainer and getting stronger, writing a blog, playing the piano better, and learning more about myself to name just a few things. I’m sure that you, too, have your own list of accomplishments along with a list of potential ones for 2011. It’s only natural. I think it’s what we all do. Hence all the books, blogs, and articles, on changing your life, reaching your goals and keeping those resolutions.
I’m going to bypass all of that and write about something else that I think will benefit us in the new year. I’m home today enjoying a rainy day. Not doing too much of anything – including not doing the two or three things left on my list for the week. I know I could be doing them. And yet, I’d rather just hang out. Read, rest, take a bubble bath, make a nice cup of tea – and use the good china to drink it. Later I think I’ll start a fire in the fireplace. ahh…. the joys of just being. Of truely enjoying these little moments in time.
It seems to me that as we go about our days, months and years checking off lists, reaching goals and moving ever steadily forward in our lives that we have the tendency to negate the value of time spent just being; drinking the cup of tea in the good china and taking our time doing it. I, too, tend to think I’m not moving forward if I can’t see the progress in front of me. And yet…. these past couple of days just hanging I’ve felt a sense of calm and even of relief as I realize I have the time to just hang out. It has sort of slowed my brain down. At first I almost felt guilty and then I realized that I’ll be back to being busy soon enough so why not just enjoy this time just as it is. And why not realize that my life isn’t going to come crashing down around me if I take a few days to just hang out; enjoy reading a good book and watching the rain.
So, that’s what I’m doing today – hanging out, reading, writing a blog post only because I feel moved to do so. I want to try to capture some of this feeling from today and yesterday so that I can keep it with me throughout the year. I want to remember to take time to just hang out and have a cup of tea without worry of getting the list done. Because I think it is in those quiet moments where we find peace of mind, make realizations, come up with ideas and generally feel at ease with ourselves. And to me these are great gifts and gifts to not be missed.
During this upcoming year as you go scurrying about with all of your accomplishments, take time to notice the progress you’ve made, pat yourself on the back for each small step you take, and from time to time stop and have a cup of tea in the good china. Really sit there and enjoy the tea. Enjoy the pretty cup. Enjoy pouring the tea from the tea pot into the cup and just really be there for this little break in your routine. Then slowly get up, smile at your self, and once again take up the gauntlet of life knowing that you have built up a little special reserve inside of you that will see you through until the next cup of tea.
P.S. if you find your mind having trouble resting while you drink your tea you might try this little meditation I read in a book by Jack Kornfield – I’m sorry I can’t remember the name of the book. The directions for the meditation are to first say it for yourself over the course of several weeks, then for others – people you love, people you work with, people you see on the street, and so on until you can say it for people you find difficult.
The meditation:
“May I be filled with loving kindness
May I be well.
May I be peaceful and at ease.
May I be happy.”
may we all. peace and all the best in the new year. cms.
