In last night's "Lizard 101" class, we talked about Play. Silly play, play that is not productive, play for the joy of it, playing because we feel safe enough to be playing. What happens at this Norwegian cross walk is such a great illustration. Strangers invite strangers to play. Thus delighting other strangers. Whom in turn may are very likely to want to play some more. Lightening up the world's mood, at very little cost, and with no expectation other than doing just that. I think it's brilliant (and why it would be illegal baffles my mind - although I don't really want to give it much energy.) Enjoy! (and big thanks to my friend Marcia for introducing me to this bit of joy) If you are reading this in your email, here is the less than two minutes video. I believe deeply that life can be easier, a lot of the time. I believe that on most days, we "just" need to get rid of the weeds, the rocks - especially if they have been there a long time - and make some room. Room to breathe, room to hear our own thoughts, room to reconnect and just room to be. Away from the swirl of information, thoughts, questions, doubts and complications. I believe it - and I am not immune to the temptation, the addiction. When I began my September Retreat, I knew that I would want to make some changes, when I came home. On my last day there, I silently asked for some teachers to come my way. And they have. I had the great joy of listening to Matt Kahn speak, a few nights ago, and while most of what he said went somewhere else than my "remembering brain," a word stuck with me: uncomplication. Uncomplicating our lives, our minds, our ways of being. I have been allowing this to settle into me in a deeper way, lately. I have been looking at some of the quiet agreements I have made with myself, over the years, and have become faithful to. Agreements such as "I check my email first thing in the morning. Every morning." That kind of thing. And reviewing that. Becoming much more intentional about what I do, and when. And how. So far, I am really liking the shift (it's not easy, as I get to see a whole lot of ways of being that I am not crazy about - which is perfect) Today, I invite you to check in with you, and look at where you may have some lovely, peace giving uncomplicating to do. And if that resonates with you, I invite you to make yourself a cup of tea, and sit with Jon Jandai for a few minutes. He is a good teacher. I wish you a lovely rest of the day. Sometimes, you "meet" someone and all of a sudden, your life feels richer, bigger and somehow more meaningful, too. Maybe that someone inspires you to do better, maybe they encourage you to keep going, maybe they remind you that it's all worth it. Or maybe they just crack your heart open just a bit more, so that you may make room for them. Pretty much all of the above happened for me when I met Alice. At age 108, Holocaust survivor Alice Herz Sommer still practiced piano for 3 hours every day. At age 104, she had a book written about her life: "A Garden Of Eden In Hell.” Alice survived the concentration camps through her music, her optimism and her gratitude for the small things that came her way - a smile, a kind word, the sun. When asked about the secret of her longevity, Alice says: "I look where it is good." I love her and I think you may, too. |
SCARED OF THE SACRED
HAPPINESS SCHOOL:
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