I was at a meeting with some colleagues yesterday when the reality hit me. We hadn't seen each other in some months and started our meeting by "checking in" with each other. As I finished talking about dealing with the aftermath of the recent Mont Vernon tragedy, visiting the possibility of saying goodbye to the job I have grown to love, and accepting the addition of my husband's 14 year old son into our home, one of my colleagues really summed it up for me. "Wow. Everything you know to be stable and true is being threatened right now. Everything is up and the air and you have no idea what tomorrow will bring. How scary!" Hmm....you might be on to something?!
I am by no means the princess of peace. I study it, promote it, and write about it, but living peacefully remains a work in progress for me. I still am unable to meditate or silence my mind for any real length of time. My competitive nature does me no favors in yoga class when I end up hurting myself by trying to hold the poses longer than the rest of the class. So no, I am not a meditating yogi. I am an over extended mom trying her hardest to tread water in this sea of chaos.
The truth of the matter is that no matter how crazy life gets, I have found ways to return to that feeling of peace. Every now and then I have to put my foot on the breaks, step back, and remember to live for a minute. Last week, my daughters and I took a day together to visit our favorite msueum, the Mariposa Multicultural Museusm in Peterborough, NH. This is a place that always leaves us feeling peacful, hopeful, and inspired. The gorgeous scenic drive through the NH foliage didn't hurt either.
I know that my life will always breathe chaos. My datebook will always be filled, my phone will keep ringing, and my inbox will always be full. I know this. But I also know that from time to time, I need to return to peace. It may be momentarily, it may be for the day, or in some cases even the weekend! However brief my peaceful experience may be, I know it the only way I will be able to continue to keep my head above water and get through the next challenges and obtacles that will inevitably come my way.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
.jpg)
You may not be what you perceive to be the ideal of a yogi but, you are without a doubt, a yogini. Just as a medatative mind is not the absence of thoughts but rather a journey to experience the space between the thoughts. You are happy, you are healthy, you are whole, you are a blessing to us all.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true - I am much older than you are and recall the dawn of these same thoughts. I, too, made some choices in a not perfect life which allowed little time for personal reflection. Over the years I made some concessions, gave up some dreams, allowed myself to accomplish less, and never regretted any of it. The reason is that I had a clear idea of what made me whole as a person, and those things have remained sacred to me. Now, in my 50's, I can truly say to my grown children that my choices have served me well. I do not worry that I don't look as successful as I could, or have as many toys as others, but my mind is at peace. This allows me to give more to those who need me and to be thankful for the gifts I do have. Very inspiring piece, Kim.
ReplyDelete