What is it to R E L A X? Our vessels of self are so caught, mired and pulsing in our everyday that to truly feel relaxed just takes TIME. To leave ones routine, YES, but letting a mind completely be at rest takes time. Routines and schedules and longings and challenges and conflicts constantly barrage our psyche and distract what is probably our true SELF from floating to the surface again and again. Day 4 – time at the beach – was when I could finally claim complete relaxation. The beating rhythm of the ocean was then synced to my firecracker heart, making it a soothing sizzle of a dream vs. fits and starts of moods that chase around my edges. With all of the fuss, it takes to simply sit one’s bottom down on a beach chair and feel the sand coursing through toes, pebbly and light. It all comes down to putting our cumbersome bodies and our whip-smart egos on a low simmer. And feeling connected to passersby with a connection of a smile and a crinkle of the eye. I have found more and more, great solace in the chance aquaintances of strangers and that connection perhaps will lead to a greater wisdom of myself. All observation too is now taken in through pores that were shut TIGHT for over a year. Open and free, take me through another year where I can use these chilled superpowers to bear the weight of the every day. Yes it is trite, but without the dark, one could have no possible scope of the unbelievable beauty and glory of the light.
Whenever I happen to overhear a conversation of a passing bike or a snippet from a lunch had at an outdoor cafe, I will more than likely still hear the buzzwords..”strain”, “variant”, “Can you believe the stupidity”? This pandemic was ushered through with The Black Lives Matter movement and prejudice baring it’s ugly and tragic head and now, 16 months later, most seem to still be carrying the load of the aftermath that this time brought. Wrought. How should we feel now? Relieved? Despairing? Hopeful? Waiting for another tragic shoe to drop or ready to usher in something that can imitate celebration? These continue to be strange times but I have to say (with a bowed and humbled head to all who were affected by Covid) that by God these have been interesting days. For all of us who were in that constant state of NORMAL and interconnected to our beloved technology and some of us numbed by it, this was indeed a wake up call. And to those of us who try to be aware, we can say “Well, this is certainly a time I’ve never been through” And there is something renewed, and yet brand new about the times we’re occupying, and for that (and many many other things) I am continually grateful. I’m sure there has been a million things reflected that have been offered up from many others. Television, podcasts, music, books…we as a society are probably LISTENING now more than ever. My hope is that others STOP TO LISTEN versus WAITING TO TALK. It is a rare gift, this ability to listen; to take another’s story in completely without the ego and its judgements wanting to rush forward like an unstoppable stream.
The ancient practice of story telling comes to mind in these days of listening. Many a moon ago, I was teaching English for half the day and the other half was spent in a small library reading and discussing books with grades 1 – 6. I was in my early thirties and was ready to glory in the innocence and wonder of a child discovering a story and where that could take an imagination. Now, even for a young child, that time of listening has had to compete with a game or a challenge given through a close-up and sometimes constant SCREEN. Our imagination is simply not being challenged enough and the temptation toward screen inebriation is far too great. I’m sure many of us have discovered some great podcasts but I would like to share some good ones that I have found. I have laughed hard out loud and have been prodded to think in ways that perhaps I hadn’t.
The Sarah Silverman Podcast...I was always mildly entertained by Sarah but along with her humor (yes, perhaps a bit raunchy) comes much intelligence, minute observations, recommendations and the rare ability for someone famous to truly remain humbled to the small treasures in the world.
Smartless...Featuring Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. A silly, smart and fun romp of a conversation between 3 interesting and funny famous guys.
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday...Yes, he is on TikTok, but focuses on things like the pursuit of greatness through kindness, self-discipline, the creative process and quotes like "Conceit is the impediment of all knowledge" (just WHO does this remind us of??) This quote was said by Marcus Aurelius and it's humbling to know that our human condition of THOUGHT has existed throughout all time.
Abraham Hicks...Look this one up for yourself as she/he is a world within themselves
Hello I must be going but again and again I am reminded of how GOOD it feels to LAUGH. Yes, of course sex, meditation, massage, affirmation of my goodness in the world at large, loving on those I love, but to get caught up in a good laugh (at comedy, yourself, others) well, that just feels damn good. And my whole body relaxes into happy waves of appreciation afterwards. Just wanted to give a shout-out to laughter because it can sometimes be forgotten until it taps you unexpectedly on the shoulder. Cheers.
Life's Rich Pageant 