Chaos, Nature and Friends
I was not prepared to write anything tonight, especially as I did a mental review of the past week and these last few days and all that needs to be accomplished in the upcoming week. As these days have been filled with stress, heavy emotion, deadlines and piles of paperwork and multiple lists. All leading to not enough sleep, not enough to eat and a headache that has stretched on for days regardless of extra strength Tylenol, ibuprofen, and prescription pain relievers.
I’ve spent time worrying about things that are troubling me instead of enjoying the small pieces of time in between. My mood has certainly been more somber due to my sense that things in the world feel heavy, uncertain, insecure, and out of control.
However, as I type and think about those moments in between, I find myself this evening feeling content, even happy and hopeful. I’m still exhausted after a long week and I still have a lingering headache, but I have a smile on my face and more importantly in my heart.
I did take a short walk and while nature has the power to raise our spirits and help us better enjoy our lives, especially when we are sad or depressed, feeling the caress of the wind on our face or the sun against our skin, listening to the sounds that surround us, and seeing the beauty in nature helps dissolve our heavier feelings. But people in our lives also have that power to help us feel connected and allow our spirit to soar.
It was the power of a friend that brought some peace. So instead of dwelling on all that transpired, I look forward to what tomorrow will bring.
I will enjoying the simple delights of life tonight. Being free and unencumbered by the problems of life. Even though I have errands that still need to be done, chores to complete, decisions to be made and planning that needs to take precedent. I will relish in just being.
That simple thought makes me recall the times in my youth when I spent hours with my neighbor hood friends playing kick-the-can and follow the judge, among riding bikes and going to the park, just being with your friends, without a care in the world.
I guess sometimes we need to bring back that sense of joy and purity to our life. While we may not abandon our responsibilities, I think we can regain that sense of wonder even if it’s only for a few moments or hours. I suppose if we can remember we can do that at anytime by simply reminiscing but preferably, by “engaging” in “play”, we may all smile more often.
By getting fully into the sensations of what we are doing, can be a way to recover that sense of wonder. Maybe it’s running or dancing in the rain and letting the water cleanse our spirit, maybe it’s just looking around us and truly noticing the color of the sky, the shape of the clouds, noticing the sounds of the outside world or just breathing in the fresh air. These simple things can re-energize us enough to lift our weighty feelings.
Feeling and being fully aware of some of these physical sensations can help us to claim some of the innocence of our youth. Living in our heads and analyzing our world is a large part of our current life for many of us. When we were children, however, our sense of the world relied on touch, and we processed things based on how they felt physically to us. Learning to be in our bodies now brings us back to that time when we used our senses to intuit the world, when we lived totally and without concern for the past and future. By using our five senses fully, we can feel more lighthearted, present, and alive today.
So the next time we feel pulled in different directions, we are spreading ourselves and our time too thin when trying to take care of our multitude of tasks and responsibilities. We feel a little overwhelmed; we need to take care of ourselves. We need to do things that will make us feel good. It may be enjoying a delicious meal, getting some exercise (not usually my choice) unless it’s talking a walk or simply taking a few minutes to relax, breathe, and simply be. Or, call a friend. There is power there. But, stop and smell the roses and remember that life is good. Life can be fun. Life is life, but it’s where beauty can be found.
I’ve spent time worrying about things that are troubling me instead of enjoying the small pieces of time in between. My mood has certainly been more somber due to my sense that things in the world feel heavy, uncertain, insecure, and out of control.
However, as I type and think about those moments in between, I find myself this evening feeling content, even happy and hopeful. I’m still exhausted after a long week and I still have a lingering headache, but I have a smile on my face and more importantly in my heart.
I did take a short walk and while nature has the power to raise our spirits and help us better enjoy our lives, especially when we are sad or depressed, feeling the caress of the wind on our face or the sun against our skin, listening to the sounds that surround us, and seeing the beauty in nature helps dissolve our heavier feelings. But people in our lives also have that power to help us feel connected and allow our spirit to soar.
It was the power of a friend that brought some peace. So instead of dwelling on all that transpired, I look forward to what tomorrow will bring.
I will enjoying the simple delights of life tonight. Being free and unencumbered by the problems of life. Even though I have errands that still need to be done, chores to complete, decisions to be made and planning that needs to take precedent. I will relish in just being.
That simple thought makes me recall the times in my youth when I spent hours with my neighbor hood friends playing kick-the-can and follow the judge, among riding bikes and going to the park, just being with your friends, without a care in the world.
I guess sometimes we need to bring back that sense of joy and purity to our life. While we may not abandon our responsibilities, I think we can regain that sense of wonder even if it’s only for a few moments or hours. I suppose if we can remember we can do that at anytime by simply reminiscing but preferably, by “engaging” in “play”, we may all smile more often.
By getting fully into the sensations of what we are doing, can be a way to recover that sense of wonder. Maybe it’s running or dancing in the rain and letting the water cleanse our spirit, maybe it’s just looking around us and truly noticing the color of the sky, the shape of the clouds, noticing the sounds of the outside world or just breathing in the fresh air. These simple things can re-energize us enough to lift our weighty feelings.
Feeling and being fully aware of some of these physical sensations can help us to claim some of the innocence of our youth. Living in our heads and analyzing our world is a large part of our current life for many of us. When we were children, however, our sense of the world relied on touch, and we processed things based on how they felt physically to us. Learning to be in our bodies now brings us back to that time when we used our senses to intuit the world, when we lived totally and without concern for the past and future. By using our five senses fully, we can feel more lighthearted, present, and alive today.
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