Being: A Moment to Breathe
After what felt like a very long, dark winter, Spring has finally sprung here in Upstate New York. I love waking up to the birds singing in the apple tree outside the bedroom window.
With the threat of frost and snow finally gone, I invited a friend over for a visit. Upon arrival, she shared that as she turned down Route 32, a construction truck pulled out to block the lane, forcing her to keep her speed below 30 mph. “It was amazing!” she said. “If I hadn’t gotten stuck behind that truck, I wouldn’t have noticed all the flowering trees. It’s so beautiful; I honestly had tears in my eyes.”
Her words struck a chord in me. So many of us are rushing through life at breakneck speed, barely taking a moment to appreciate the world around us. (I will admit that I am one of the worst offenders.) Her appreciation of the moment once more got me thinking about the human experience; specifically, the difference between being and doing.
Doing Versus Being
As I was thinking about this, it occurred to me that my greeting to others used to be, “How are you?” but lately it’s changed to “How are you doing?” or “How is it going?” The standard answer has become “Busy,” followed by a big sigh. I’m realizing that we leave each other little room to “be.”
I bring this up today because this week I was swamped. I was so busy, in fact, that last night when I got home, I was stressed out and tired. I decided to go to bed early so I would have time to pray for clearing of the negativity that came up during the day, and then to ask for guidance on how I might find better balance today. When I woke up, I was feeling better and as the morning unfolded, I got my answer to finding better balance in the strangest manner.
If you follow me on Facebook, you know that I often post short video clips titled, “Walk With Me in 2019.” This morning I was filtering through my drive looking for a clip I haven’t posted yet. It was then that I inadvertently opened a video file from February, where I heard the exact words I needed to hear. The surprising part is they came out of my very own mouth! In the video, which I’m sharing below, I’m speaking about waking up with my mind spinning. The video is just over a minute, so I’ll let you listen to it rather than synopsizing it for you.
A Moment to Breathe
As human beings, it is imperative that we make time to “just be.” Unfortunately, though, most of our days are caught up in “doing,” and even when we have time to relax, we keep our minds busy with social media rather than enjoying the stillness. For our health, both mental and physical, it’s crucial that we take the time to rest and relax in whatever way we can. I’ve learned that one of the best ways to relax is to shut down and stay firmly in the moment, which if you’re anything like me can be a pretty tall order. With that said, though, I’ve decided to try something.
I’m committing that by next week, I will put together a meditation that will “be” available on my website for download. I’m feeling a little nervous about the idea because, quite honestly, I’ve never done this before. I will trust that “I find my genius in the silence” this week, and I will make it happen.
Building a legacy of love starts with you. Learning to love yourself and be your best you is a process—one that takes time. Do the best you can, whatever your best may be at any moment.
Let our legacy be love!