I am at the kitchen table with my cup of coffee, all windows open to soak in a beautiful, sunny day, and it occurs to me: I’m alone. Well, my pack of dogs are here, but no other humans. A strange sensation. The wind chimes are tinkling, and every hour I can hear the bells at the Greek Orthodox Church ring. It is nice to have some peaceful time at the beginning of the day. A time to just be present…here and now. The craziness will start soon enough.
My daughter returns from seeing her boyfriend in Chicago in a couple of hours, I need to feed her cats, my husband is in the hospital dealing with a rejection episode from his lung transplant (not uncommon, all is well), and I have errands to run. We live in a busy, busy world now, with little time for contemplation or just sitting. Those moments, so common in my childhood, are rare and few now. I pause to breathe it in. Precious.
Since I started my Advanced Yoga Level 1 I have tried to carve out some time each day to just “be”. THIS is my moment. It should be easy to find time every day, but for some reason, it isn’t. Multitasking has become so intrinsic to our lives that finding such a moment is uncommon. I need to make time, every day, to stop everything, turn off everything, and just be present. Strangely enough, finding that time makes my day better. I feel more energetic if I take a “time out”.
I am wondering how many of us find this moment every day? I confess I don’t always make the time even though I know it would be best if I did. How many of us have a meditation practice? A daily prayer? Some kind of daily ritual that is meant to find calm and peace in a busy life. I really want to hear from you if you do, don’t, or want to. ???
Great post! I do try to do my daily prayer and always find when I do, the day goes much better. God’s will not mine works!
I did an hour of meditative yoga with the intention of “health for my body” today. Ahhhhh.
I’ve been a early riser all my life. As I’ve gotten younger I’ve realized the time I’m alone in the morning with coffee in hand I do focus on the smell of crispness in the air, embrace that there is NO sound is sweet and pure like heaven. The hour and half that I’m alone gives me just enough time to ponder, purge and pray!!! After that I’m off to the gym where I bring together mind, body and soul to prepare me for the rest of the day!! This is my treat and I won’t share.
A wonderful treat! I seem to remember the lark, and I have always been the owl. The beginning of your day sounds perfect!
Thank you for the wonderful reminder…..I hope your husband stays well.
Thanks, Kelly. It may happen again…as the body is ever changing, the meds need to be tweaked and that is why he sees the team so frequently…to catch things early. Poor guy is sick today, suffering from all the steroid treatments, yuck.
I can picture the little girl in you being very happy for her time to witness the world around her. I’m so glad you got to be present today.
Yoga class was wonderful, too. It’s all good!
Beautifully written. When I wake in the morning, before my feet touch the floor, I thank God for my many blessings. I do the same before I fall asleep. On my daily walk in the park, I say silent prayers for those I am thinking of. In these moments I feel calm and peaceful and happy! I believe these moments ground me and are so necessary in my day. How different our world might be if we just took time to be silent, listen and be.
I agree. And if everyone would just let everyone else do the same. I can never understand why people can’t just be nice! It would be a better world.
Girl, I just admire that you get through the day with such calm! So your practice is inspirational. I also agree on the “just be nice” thing. So agree!
Oh, don’t admire too much, the whole day isn’t calm! I wish. “Just be nicey-nice” is what everyone says to me because I say things like “just be nice!” and “that isn’t very nice” and “they are doing the best they can”. Friends and Family think my Nicey-niceness is hilarious. I stay by it, though: just be nice!