I would like to thank. . . the birds outside my window who constantly
reassured me that nothing is desperately important and the
joy of life is just looking at it.
reassured me that nothing is desperately important and the
joy of life is just looking at it.
Alec Guinness
* * * * *
Today's Meditation:
* * * * *
Today's Meditation:
Birds
do what they do in life, and they keep on keeping on, no matter what. We
tend to think a lot, and sometimes we forget to remind ourselves that on a
level that's bigger than we are, not much in our lives is really as important
as we tend to think it is. How many times have we felt that what was
going on in our lives right now has been "desperately important,"
only to find out six months later that we look back on it as something that
wasn't really that bad at all?
It's very easy to get stressed about how our lives are going, to feel that
what's happening to us is the most important thing in the world.
Sometimes we need to find ways to remind ourselves that everything is relative
and that even if something seems to be terrible or awful, life still goes on
and it's there for us to love and appreciate--if we're able to get our minds
focused enough on it and off what we think is so terrible.
There are plenty of things that we can focus on if we want to keep our minds on
the joy of life. Birds are a great start, but there's also sunshine and
rain, cool breezes, children's smiles, puppies and kittens playing, kind acts,
sunsets and sunrises, trees and flowers--there are many, many things that can
remind us that looking at the life that surrounds us constantly can be one of
the greatest joys of all, and that we don't have to do anything or accomplish
anything to get this kind of joy.
So look around. See. Feel. Appreciate. Love.
Laugh. Cry. Sigh. Say "thank you." React in
honest awareness to the things that this wonderful world of ours has to offer
us, but that we so very often don't see at all when we're so focused on the
things that we deem to be very, very important.
* * * * *
Questions to consider:
* * * * *
Questions to consider:
Why do we tend to think that so many things are desperately important?
How can we teach ourselves to be more aware of the many things that are around
us all the time that we could and should appreciate?
When was the last time that you noticed and appreciated the birds who have
songs for us all the time?
* * * * *
For further thought:
* * * * *
For further thought:
A heightened state of awareness comes when we look,
and then look again, and then relax into whatever situation
we are in. When we have a capacity for fascination with
simple things, we are able to sit peacefully for hours on a
park bench, or in an airport, engrossed by the different gaits
and gestures of people as they walk, talk, and stand. We develop
the ability to be patient as we stand in line at the grocery
store because we have the ability to look with fascination
and wonder at all that surrounds us.
and then look again, and then relax into whatever situation
we are in. When we have a capacity for fascination with
simple things, we are able to sit peacefully for hours on a
park bench, or in an airport, engrossed by the different gaits
and gestures of people as they walk, talk, and stand. We develop
the ability to be patient as we stand in line at the grocery
store because we have the ability to look with fascination
and wonder at all that surrounds us.
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