Tuesday, January 31, 2012

What Matters



If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.  -- Muhammad Ali 

I don't know about you, but there are days when I feel like that piece of moldy bread -- non-digestible and non-appealing. It's nice on those days to remind myself.... I am good for something!

Working on my own, working from my home office, is challenging. I am out of practice. Out of the habit of structuring my day around being proactive, being constructive, being trusting in what is unfolding before me. Working at a homeless shelter for almost six years, I became accustomed to crisis. I learned to not trust my calendar because there would always be a demand that caused me to shift timetables, change agendas to meet the latest,  'we need it yesterday' demands of those around me.

Being in this place of the peaceful unfolding of my day is unnerving.

I am learning I need to unlearn aspects of my day.

Like honouring my writing time.

I have made a commitment to write for two hours everyday. Thus far, I've met that commitment. Sort of. But what I haven't done is to honour the time period I said I would set to write in.

Time to get honest with myself, to get real with my agenda and get on with creating more of what I want in my life.

Which brings me to the things I can do today to create more of what I want in my life everyday -- moving through matter to body to mind to soul to spirit and exercising each of them to the best of my ability, on all levels of my being.

Because Spirit matters. Body matters. Mind matters. Soul matters.

And none of them matter much if I don't engage all matter in the enlightenment of my journey.

To give you an idea of what this looks like, and how simple it can be to create balance, here's a list of  things I will do today (and everyday) to keep my being integrated on all levels that matter.

1. Meditate for a minimum of 20 minutes.  Practice my ACIM. (Spirit)
2. Read something inspirational. Write in my journal. Write in my daily time block. (Mind)
3. Go for a one hour walk with Ellie and take my vitamins. (Body)
4. Do something for my community (and that includes writing my blogs as you are part of my community). (Soul)

Some days I may feel like a piece of moldy bread, but no matter how I feel, I can always make something of my day by taking care of what matters for my Body. Mind. Soul. Spirit.-- in an integrated, holistic fashion that recognizes I cannot do one and not the other and still expect my life to feel in balance.

Namaste.

5 comments:

Shattered said...

What an amazing balance you have found. I hope I am able to do the same someday...

Louise Gallagher said...

Dear Shattered,

That you recognize balance means you know what it is -- and in that knowing exists the possibility of its presence in your life.

For me, it is something I strive for -- I ask myself, what do I want more of in my life -- and balance, peace of mind, love and joy are always there.

And so, everyday, I make a commitment to take a step, no matter how small, towards creating them in my life.

I ask myself -- will this create more, or less, of what I want in my life -- and if the answer is 'less' I choose another path.

And always, I applaud myself for my baby steps and giant leaps. All of them add up to more of what I want in my life.

I just finished reading several posts on your blog and found your comment here. Your courage, honesty, truth are inspiring and heart-breaking.

Thank you for saying hello again.

Anonymous said...

it must be nice to have an ellie...

Unknown said...

Balance is a powerful thing and even when you know you need to find it, it can be extremely elusive.
Your words today clarify so much of what I need to do and I appreciate you sharing them.
At least the balancing for you is now all about what you want (not so much of what others want)which is important.
May balance be with you every day my friend because you deserve it - and moldy bread??? hilarious because we all see you as much more than that.

H. Gillham said...

All parts of us need to be nourished -- why do I forget that? I should know this -- thanks for this direct and simple reminder.{Unfortunately, I think that I do feed my mind too much junk food -- LOL.}

I haven't visited here in a while -- man, I just forget.

I'll move you to my blog list --- I usually pick you up at Glynn's. [that last part sounded funny -- LOL]