Self-Care Resides in the Stillness

         My everyday life is a busy one ~ probably a lot like yours. Taking one day off a week to tend to myself feels like a weakness of sorts, my old imbedded Protestant work ethic or parentage or something. It is vital to my well-being because I often get tangled up in the “chaos committee” right between my ears and totally forget to rest in the now.

Never a good idea!

Never.

So I’ve AGAIN realized that without at least one day off to just “be”, to rest in who I am, to REMEMBER who I am, I might get lost in that energy draining mind field that makes me crazy. I immediately lose touch with my peace, my joy, my love of life ~ and by extension, as a child of Source, a divine spark of God ~ I lose touch with my beautiful self. And self care is impossible.

And it seems, for me, the first step happens by going outside. Hanging sheets on the clothesline is a meditative experience that I cherish ~ and get the benefit of the wonderful aroma of sun-washed sheets on which to sleep. Pulling weeds pulls ME back to Mother Earth and as I write these words I am sitting at Lake Apopka under a newly budding cypress tree watching the birds, insects and water plants flow with what is. Flowing with what is IS their natural state of being. Nature teaches me again and again that my greatest need is to just “be”. Be with them among their carefree energy.

Carefree! Free of care! Interesting concept, isn’t it? One I believe we might consider adopting ~ if only for a moment. It’s staying present in the now that allows us to feel carefree and it’s staying present in the moment where the struggle shows up, isn’t it? But a single solitary conscious breath is all it takes to bring me, and you, back to the “this” moment. 

Then the great gift is offered. Will I accept it, will you? This great treasure is stillness. Just for a few moments, become still. Feel the body energy vibrating you. The longer we are able to remain in the stillness the greater our present moment awareness becomes. 

And the greater the peace.

Here is where stillness speaks to us. Here is where our true joy resides. Here is where true self-care lives. Here ~ in the stillness.

Many blessings to each of you this Holy Week.