Better After Being
When I give myself time and space, I am more grounded, calm, connected to my true self. That’s good for me and all around me.
I am just back from time with my family. Our visit was quiet, calm, without lots of doing. Gentle mornings, sitting outside reading, time together sharing meals, talking, reminiscing, watching things together and experiencing shared reactions, amazement, disbelief, and lots of laughter.
This kind of non-doing time is so beneficial for me. As a yoga teacher, I sometimes think about whether or not I “should” continue to teach when I’m away. After all, Covid 19 taught me that I can teach online from anywhere.
And yet, it is the very act of taking a break that leads to me being a better teacher. And partner, and friend, and human being.
When I don’t take a break; that is to say when I allow all the doingness of our culture to penetrate into my being, I keep on keeping on, resulting in irritability, falling into frustration, feeling heavy, and disconnected from my best self. In those times I operate in robot mode. Still able to do what’s expected, but no inspiration. Much less joy. Much more ego operating as boss. Too much talking, not enough listening. Nervous energy getting me through. Hurt relationships, disconnection in general.
And so the unlayering of our doing culture within me continues. I will celebrate that I am discovering again and again, each time more deeply, the value of slow living; the experience of enjoying more moments rather than continuously checking on the progress of my doing.
From here the doing, the important doing, the stuff I really do want to fill my life with, gets done. It gets done with ease and joy and even laughter. Yes. Yes, this is it. I remember! This is the life I choose.
I have been back a couple of weeks now. So far, am still savoring the slowness of life. We’ll see what happens!