...but also to spend less time on the computer and more time living.
To continue to keep in mind last year's words of intention, "listen" and "love without fear"...
...but also to focus on this year's word.
Embrace
I was reading in USA Today (the hotel gave it to me, okay?) about the new book by Dr. Susan Love and friends, "Live A Little." I don't think anyone can accuse me of being overly concerned about my health. I'm well acquainted with the concept of moderation and I know how to indulge. It was this that jumped out at me: "Lives that are not full enough are an overlooked problem in a popular culture focused on crazed multitaskers, Domar says."
My life is full enough. However, in the knowledge that I am an introverted, contemplative personality, I spend a lot of time trying to protect myself from my own life, instead of celebrating the fact that it is full. Brace yourself for the awkward extended metaphor. When we get the fake Christmas tree down from the attic and set it up, the branches have been compressed in storage. It needs to be "fluffed," the mini-branches on the main branches pulled out in every direction to make it look like a full and beautiful tree. All those needles are there, but it takes fluffing for the fullness to appear.
Why isn't my word of intention "fluff"? Because that would be ridiculous, and because the psychic, spiritual equivalent of fluffing--in my opinion--is embracing. I need to embrace my life as a mother (especially as a mother of a child with special needs), as a wife, as a homekeeper, as a friend, as a writer, and so on. When I'm focused on stress and shielding myself from it, my life looks like a spare and pointy tree just out of the box. When I embrace it, my life looks like a full and healthy evergreen.
4 comments:
I really like this post. I can never tell if we're bizarrely similar or if you're just really good at expressing thoughts that are universal. Either way, I'm glad you're writing again so I don't have to think for myself quite as much. xx
I feel this way, too! I spend a lot of time trying to find time to do . . . . whatever it is I'm not in the middle of doing -- always focused on what I should be doing, or would rather be doing. I think I just need to embrace the moment -- whatever that moment is.
I'm so glad I found your blog! Thanks for visiting mine.
Liz @ twenty-firstcenturyhousewife.blogspot.com
"I spend a lot of time trying to protect myself from my own life." Me too. Embrace is lovely!
Thank you for this.
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