I don’t usually wax philosophical in my blog space, but sometimes something hits me that does make me pause and consider my Self a bit. A photo I posted on Instagram yesterday was a moment like that for me. In fact, now that I think about it, an image can often make me consider things that are much deeper than I would have imagined as I snapped the photo. Is it the same for you?
This image struck me as I noticed that the Buddha and the cat were both sitting still, observing their surroundings, with a peace that comes from knowing one’s place in the world. The simple act of observing, performed by an animal who survives on its keen observation skills, and by an inanimate object. So dissimilar, and yet very similar.
I need to do more sitting and observing. It’s so easy to get caught up in the to-do list, the must-do list (these are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!) and the things that come up that are on neither list but have to take priority anyway. Those are my favorite. Not.
There just never seems to be enough time to sit. It would be easy to assume that this sitting in peace can happen during the times I am watching Project Runway or messing with my phone apps, but generally, it can’t. There is some time here and there that gets wasted – I am human and have thumbs – but once the family is home there really is not time to spend in reflection or honoring my Self in any way. Wow, that sounds really new-agey, doesn’t it? Bear with me…
With a birthday coming up, I am feeling especially desperate to hold onto my life… to not feel any regrets when I am nearing the end. Losing my mom five years ago probably hasn’t helped. I am keenly aware that life can be much shorter than we anticipate it to be, and that there will probably be things left undone when I go. Frankly, I would live to be 200 if they’d let me – I just love being alive.
I think that I am torn between “Do All The Things!” and “Chill Out and Enjoy!” Probably, I’m not the first person to feel this way. Definitely not the last. But it’s still a struggle for me. The more I feel myself stressing, the more I think I need to find that time to sit like a Buddha, or a cat… In the quiet of reflection I know I will find some answers to some of the desperation I am hearing in my inner dialogue.
Obviously, I need to add “sit in peace” to my must-do list. ;)
We don’t do it and I wonder about people like DaVinci or Currie – didn’t they spend time sitting still and wondering what was possible or just contemplating? We fill our time with silly things (me included) and why? Because everyone else is doing that? I’m thinking that digging deep into our own lives might just have huge value.
This was really interesting. I find that as a society and people, we are encouraged to “seize all opportunities” yet doesn’t that lead to always feeling like we’re missing out? What about seizing the opportunity to just BE? I know I need to work on this. I can’t even stay awake unless I’m fidgeting or typing or thinking or planning.