I really had to laugh when I saw this week's assignment for our blog.
Oh boy does my God have a sense of humor!!
My pastor (Perry Nobel) says
"If its not good, God's not done...
Well, this week He has been hard at work...
I know everyone has them, we just don't talk about them...
or if we do talk about "those issues" no one really listens because
we are soooo caught up in our own drama.
In the Arrington house, "those issues" were daily.
Before this class...this would have been the way I survived...
Don't laugh, I KNOW you can relate!!!
Going back to work (even at an amazing job) after a wonderful vacation...
with a summer head cold from the grandson...
with an unhappy child at home is not fun.
even if the child is 22...
Then add hubby return to work is a six day stretch...
major pain and
sleep deprivation
tight budget
rainy weather
You name it...it happened this week...
and then I read the assignment...
"Review the practices we have learned, and share how you would use them in your life"
OK..I got it...
First practice is BREATH...
Simply stop, find the quiet and breath!!
It is amazing how much clearer thing become when we allow our self time to just be still.
Because of the weather I was unable to get out on the kayak.
So I did the next best thing, I climbed up on the porch swing and just sat.
As I listened to the rain, I felt calmer. I could actually feel the stress leaving my body.
Breathing with this head cold was a challenge...
Sooo I went inside and did an herbal steam bath.
I practiced my subtle mind meditation... really focusing on quieting my thoughts.
When I returned to the porch, I practiced the loving kindness meditation.
My son was the focus. He suffers from depression and has many of the same issues as adult children face in their journey to discover who they are and where they fit in.
With my clearer mind and refocused attention...
I was able to listen with my heart.
Now this was a full afternoon of "me time".
I am not sure I can do this weekly but I am sure going to try.
My goal this week is to give myself at least 15 minutes each morning.
By doing this, I believe my day will run smoother and I know I will feel better!!
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Sonya, Great little photo of the latte order! I have seen that once before and it is quite funny and very true at times! I am sorry to hear that you had a rough week but I am very happy to hear that you were able to relax by practicing these exercises. I think that it is important to always have some "me" time even with everything going on. just 5 minutes, even if you are not able to practice the whole loving kindness or subtle mind exercise, you will find that you are more relaxed then before. I think that practicing me time everyday is going to help you a ton! You are on a great track and if you are anything like I am, it is hard to wake up 15 minutes earlier but by the end of the day I am much happier about my decision to wake up and relax alone. Good luck! You got it!
ReplyDeleteSonya,
ReplyDeleteI think the more we try to have a normal life the less of a normal life we have. I have had a week similar to the one you described. I use the meditation to help me find peace and an actual rejuvenation. I feel that that simple quiet time helps me re-group, which allows me to make better decisions when I have to make a choice. Meditation also helps me to understand myself. When we have days like you described here it reminds me that having meditation available to me is a blessing. I remember when I was a young mom I always seemed stressed and worried how I was going to get through the next "DAY". I found meditation about 15 years into my marriage and though it was primitive meditation compared to what we have learned in class it helped me make it through some very trying times. It got me through my first child going over 1700 miles away to college, my husbands 4 deployments in 5 years, his retirement, and four grand kids. I now have a lot more skills with meditation and it has helped me more and I wish I would have had these skills earlier in life. Thanks for your perspective and your description of your day and how you handle it.
I agree that we can get caught up in content, but once we sit down, clear our minds and relax we can get a whole new perspective on things. This is why I do so much meditation and self-hypnosis.I thought I meditated and did self-hypnosis quite a bit already. However, lately I have caught myself doing both much longer than normal. I have also noticed I have actually been more productive even though I have had less time to do things. I do believe that it is also dependent on how much we get used to things as well. So, some times we may need to change things up a bit to really shake things up
ReplyDeleteSonya,
ReplyDeleteAs always, unbelievable. Through this class I have read all your post, and every time I am completely blown away by your spiritual being. I hope that I can find my path to the enlightenment you have. You truly are one of a kind and you have shown through your words of wisdom what it means to be spiritually connected and happy. Thank you for your thoughts and great words.
And in regards to your response post to me on the discussion board, My children are my happy place other than the ocean. As I posted on my blog, Meditation and visualization do not always require silence, but sometimes the things you love the most may just be the noises and sounds they offer. Some like the sounds of water, or birds, and although sometimes I prefer the sound of the ocean, I also really love the sound of my four sons and the melodies they can provide, as long as it is not crying. LOL