Tulip Awareness
Sometimes life has a wonderful way of delivering what you need.
Or as Mick said,
“You might not get what you want, but you just might find…you get what you need.”
I know too many friends who have been going full tilt, only to have their bodies start screaming in a way that stops them in their tracks.
Literally, metaphorically, figuratively…you can throw a few ‘ly’ words at the situation, but what it all boils down to is that though the mind will continually tell us that we can do more, more, more (!), the truth is that less IS more.
The body tells the truth of what we are so good at denying.
OK. I’ll quit talking about these friends.
Let’s bring it on home. It would seem that this has happened to me a few times as well. And each time I promise to listen to my body and treat it like the true friend it is instead of some horse I’m flogging to the finish line.
I’m happy to report that I think I’m getting better at this. I haven’t exactly nailed the whole process but I’m banking on awareness as the first step.
I have discovered a few things have helped me on this quest for a more anxiety-free life:
1.) Walking, especially while talking to a good friend. Pricesless stuff.
2.) Meditation, because it makes me realize how much time there really is in 30 minutes!
3.) Long baths, preferably combined with the above meditation.
4.) Scheduling less, focusing on whoever I’m with as much of my attention as possible; active listening.
5.) Really, really and truly looking at the world around me. Paying focused attention. (This alone has helped slow down the number of times I was whacking off the ends of my fingers. Seriously, it was getting a bit silly).
6.) Fun. Outdoors. Gratitude.
7.) Tech-free Sundays. Like all of the above statements, I fail at this one too. But that brings me to the last point, which really is the summation of everything listed here…
8.) Being kind to myself. How can I show compassion to others if I’m always beating myself up? It all starts at home and home doesn’t get much closer than moi.
So when I miss the mark on any of these things…I give myself a little talk, just like I would to a friend that I care about:
That’s okay, Colleen. Maybe you need a cup of tea and a nap. Then later, you can get up and try again.
This, of course, can look suspiciously like crazy lady behaviour - especially if said aloud (which often happens) but…OH WELL.
Maybe by the time I’m ready to leave this mortal realm, I just might have it figured out. Than again, maybe not.
But it won’t be for lack of trying (BUT) with as little effort as possible.
