Leela- I’m grateful you took the time to write this. There’s something quietly radical in your insistence that rest is not an interruption of life, but part of its structure. Your reflection on the American way, how life so often becomes secondary to work, lands with clarity. What you’re describing here feels like a real antidote, not as theory, but as lived practice. Thank you for modeling it so simply and honestly. It matters a great deal. Sheila Grace
Oh how very kind, thank you. :) I hope it is (at least part of) a real antidote. I spent so much of my early life desperately collecting tools and having experiences and now I have to deliberately put some of them to good use. :) Remembering to rest and have pleasure inline and not as a side project shoehorned in between obligations and drudgery is one of the biggest ones for me.
I share that burden. Someone asked me to go to "Dance Church" last week and I was mortified! That is my ego's basic stance: if it feels good, it must be off-limits! At lease I can see this now, and your writing has certainly refocused me. How to relax the vice grip of ego? We shall see. Blessings.
This deeply resonated with the recurring (lately, rapidly recurring) pull to get back to a more analog way of life. Good for you for letting yourself step away (and thanks for modeling that!).
I love it...true fountain pens that require actual ink to be put into them! I've been trying to read more books, as in books that are printed on paper with actual pages that must be physically turned. And writing more things by hand rather than jotting off notes on a keypad or keyboard. Probably the thing I do most regularly and consistently, though, is not listening to music or other content whilst walking outside. Letting nature and other ambient noise serve as my only soundtrack.
I've been experimenting with listening or not to things when I'm out. I've been driving without input a lot, and it's so interesting what thoughts come up. Walking, it depends on my mood. Sometimes I need to listen to something so I don't argue with someone in my head or get all upset about something when it's not going to help. But now it's a deliberate choice to do it, not habit. That feels better, you know?
Such a good point that sometimes, it's the noise from inside that's most disturbing! And yes, choosing, rather than reacting, makes all the difference.
I find it easier than I expected when I take that extra breath to ask *what do I really want to be doing right now?*
Leela- I’m grateful you took the time to write this. There’s something quietly radical in your insistence that rest is not an interruption of life, but part of its structure. Your reflection on the American way, how life so often becomes secondary to work, lands with clarity. What you’re describing here feels like a real antidote, not as theory, but as lived practice. Thank you for modeling it so simply and honestly. It matters a great deal. Sheila Grace
Oh how very kind, thank you. :) I hope it is (at least part of) a real antidote. I spent so much of my early life desperately collecting tools and having experiences and now I have to deliberately put some of them to good use. :) Remembering to rest and have pleasure inline and not as a side project shoehorned in between obligations and drudgery is one of the biggest ones for me.
I share that burden. Someone asked me to go to "Dance Church" last week and I was mortified! That is my ego's basic stance: if it feels good, it must be off-limits! At lease I can see this now, and your writing has certainly refocused me. How to relax the vice grip of ego? We shall see. Blessings.
Oh I've done dance church, it's really lovely. 10/10 I do recommend.
This deeply resonated with the recurring (lately, rapidly recurring) pull to get back to a more analog way of life. Good for you for letting yourself step away (and thanks for modeling that!).
I find myself curious: what sorts of steps are you taking toward the analogue? This week I refilled my fountain pens...
I love it...true fountain pens that require actual ink to be put into them! I've been trying to read more books, as in books that are printed on paper with actual pages that must be physically turned. And writing more things by hand rather than jotting off notes on a keypad or keyboard. Probably the thing I do most regularly and consistently, though, is not listening to music or other content whilst walking outside. Letting nature and other ambient noise serve as my only soundtrack.
I've been experimenting with listening or not to things when I'm out. I've been driving without input a lot, and it's so interesting what thoughts come up. Walking, it depends on my mood. Sometimes I need to listen to something so I don't argue with someone in my head or get all upset about something when it's not going to help. But now it's a deliberate choice to do it, not habit. That feels better, you know?
Such a good point that sometimes, it's the noise from inside that's most disturbing! And yes, choosing, rather than reacting, makes all the difference.