Time is an interesting thing.
I really had never given it much thought, other than the fact that there just wasn't enough of it, until about a year ago. Eckhart Tolle talks about "clock time", that which we need for practical purposes. And "psychological time", that which is the egoic mind's endless preoccupation with past and future and its unwillingness to be one with life by living in alignment with the inevitable isness of the present moment. Both, constructs of the human mind.
Take a look at Nature, for example. This world turns, the seasons come and go, the sun rises and sets - and there is no care for what time it is. In this moment the leaf is on the tree, in the next, it is not. Like Tolle says, "Everything seems to be subject to time, yet it all happens in the Now. That is the paradox." To try and understand this concept, just think of how the world would be if there was no clock time... really think about it.
Every October my egoic mind slowly begins its movement towards my own endless preoccupation with the past and future. Why October? Because this is when we first start seeing and hearing about...yes, here it is...
Christmas.
Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. I love the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree, I love how the snow looks on the pines outside my window, I love the time spent with family and all the excitement that comes along with having way too many people is one small room. What I don't like is the pressure that time puts on me - or better stated, that I put on myself. Time to decorate, time to bake, time to shop... and then add a dose of chronic illness and it all becomes quite overwhelming.
I have gotten much better over the years. Transitioning from young motherhood to Grandma (yes, I will be a grandma in February!!) has helped significantly. It's easier to let things go and let the next generation take hold. But I still do my fair share of fretting.
This morning I read the most wonderful blog post by Julie Daley on her site, Unabashedly Female. I highly recommend taking a peek. She speaks to the rhythm of life and how this has nothing to do with time. And how honoring that rhythm is nothing short of sacred. It's a good message and one that I plan on re-reading weekly - at least until January 1st!
Not only do I NOT want to get caught up in the whirlwind of the holidays - I can't. Not unless I want to end up in the hospital. Which, although it may get me off the hook for some things, really isn't all that much fun. So I have decided to come up with a mantra for this year. By definition, a mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation". This is my mantra for the 2011 Holiday Season...
Keep it sacred .
Kind of like, keep it simple. Which, I believe, that if I do indeed keep it sacred - simple just naturally follows.
Honoring what is holy, honoring my own body, honoring those that I love, honoring the present moment - this is what it means to hold my day sacred.
If I hold onto this concept of honoring the sacred in my day, then I am taking the first steps towards creating transformation. Transformation that not only blesses me, but blesses all those around me. And honestly...
what better gift is there?
Every October my egoic mind slowly begins its movement towards my own endless preoccupation with the past and future. Why October? Because this is when we first start seeing and hearing about...yes, here it is...
Christmas.
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| Christmas 2010, in the basement with all the kids! |
I have gotten much better over the years. Transitioning from young motherhood to Grandma (yes, I will be a grandma in February!!) has helped significantly. It's easier to let things go and let the next generation take hold. But I still do my fair share of fretting.
This morning I read the most wonderful blog post by Julie Daley on her site, Unabashedly Female. I highly recommend taking a peek. She speaks to the rhythm of life and how this has nothing to do with time. And how honoring that rhythm is nothing short of sacred. It's a good message and one that I plan on re-reading weekly - at least until January 1st!
Not only do I NOT want to get caught up in the whirlwind of the holidays - I can't. Not unless I want to end up in the hospital. Which, although it may get me off the hook for some things, really isn't all that much fun. So I have decided to come up with a mantra for this year. By definition, a mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation". This is my mantra for the 2011 Holiday Season...
Keep it sacred .
Kind of like, keep it simple. Which, I believe, that if I do indeed keep it sacred - simple just naturally follows.
Honoring what is holy, honoring my own body, honoring those that I love, honoring the present moment - this is what it means to hold my day sacred.
What to buy...
keep it sacred
How to decorate...
keep it sacred
How to entertain...
keep it sacred
How to use my time...
keep it sacred
What thoughts to occupy my mind...
keep it sacred
What words to speak...
keep it sacred
If I hold onto this concept of honoring the sacred in my day, then I am taking the first steps towards creating transformation. Transformation that not only blesses me, but blesses all those around me. And honestly...
what better gift is there?
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