Tag: slowing down

Posted in Earth

resting is an activity

Posted on by J.A.B. 
resting is an activity; I give you Permission to Rest 
to take a moment 
                   and just Sit
                                look around you 
                                                       and just BE

this is not meditation; that is a mind exercise
                                      this is Rest 
in our world of busy as a badge of honour 
we do not take the time
                            to be Present 
                                            with ourselves 
                                                        and just Sit Down 

we label resting as laziness; shameful and indulgent
                               still out bodies Need it 
I invite you to Sit, look at the world around you 
 tell your list of things in your head
       that you feel must get done right now
                            that you will be back in 15 min
                                     you're in a meeting for a moment

a meeting with the Present Moment; a scheduled Pause
                 allow your body to stop rushing
you may notice that your body is carrying tension 
your neck and jaw clenched?
                            in your shoulders ?
                                             maybe your hips
                                                         ans lower back

are your idle hands looking for something to grasp?
                  squeezing the arms of your chair?
this tension goes deeper than your muscles you know 
the frenzy of being busy 
                      frays our nerves
                               burns out our adrenals 
                                                            robs us of Joy

the tension is there; even as you run from it by staying busy
                             I give you permission to Rest
Posted in Air, journal

Within the Pause

Posted on by J.A.B.

Within the pause… this quiet place in time where all the cars stay parked on Monday mornings. Cafes are closed, everything is closed, the whining din of the city has been hushed. Birds song fills the rainy spring air, emboldened squirrels plant their bums in the middle of our urban garden-scapes. There is a surprising sense of relief. There is no where I have to be… not really. My day to day has been paused

When I wake up each day is stretched out before me now, like a canvas awaiting the stroke of my brush. With in the pause there is time for reflection. Questions I seldom have a moment to ask come boldly forward. Why do I feel I need to do it all? Am I enjoying the picture of life I am drawing? What is it that I find necessary? Do I even miss that?  In this new world of limited movement, and closed doors I am finding a new freedom.

There is no guilt in not doing things right now, I can just choose to sit, or read, or play. I have no schedule. Its like those long summer days at home with the kids before school and lunches. Like living in a vacation day, filling my curios mind with things I enjoy. And I am seldom bored. I think I really dislike the routine of school. I dislike packing lunches most of all, and empathize with the kids feelings of monotony toward sandwiches.

I have spent the last few years starting and re-starting over with the changes that have been my journey. Right now, it seems this unique thing has happened, this moment of open potential; where I can experience my life devoid of everything I have taken on and signed up for over the past decade. What do I want the memories painted of the canvas of my life to resemble? With in this moment I am choosing.