“I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things…
I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run
against the wind.”-Leo Buscaglia
Have you ever awakened in the morning with a dread of getting out of bed? You just know that this day will be like all the other days with the same routine, reminding you of the movie “Groundhog Day.” In this movie, the character faced with the challenge of doing something different. We all go about our daily chores, work, taking care of children, and some days noticing it seems to take longer to get out of bed. However, there is a way to break free of the daily grind even while in the midst of mounting responsibilities.
To begin practicing presence, this exercise of “being,” we will consider the life of a fruit tree. We are just entering into Spring, and if we have a fruit tree it may or may not have blossoms, and if the tree is barren, we do not ask someone to fasten peaches, pears, or apples on the barren fruit tree. We do not expect that one tree in the orchard is going to supply another tree, or that one branch will provide fruit for another branch. Each tree bears fruit from within itself (Goldsmith, J., 1986). To reason that fruit comes forth through the branches would appear impossible. We see an empty trunk and barren branches so how will the fruit hang themselves on the branches?
“Turn your heart towards gratitude,
then peace and perseverance will prevail.”
-Cinthia McFeature
Our spirit of giving aligns with the universal truth as we give we receive. We learn that we no longer have to think about what we shall eat or drink or how we shall be clothed, simply because we have accepted the flow of love. We look to nature as our teacher and watch the spider spin its web from within, see a caterpillar preparing to form a cocoon to become a butterfly from within, we plant a seed, and from inside the seed a flower, tree, plant begin to grow. Nature shows us a place of presence and consciousness, with a gained awareness that we cannot “get anything” from outside ourselves because, all love, truth, companionship and our home is complete within us.
It is important to take the time to play and have fun. Give yourself permission to feel joy again. Some people enjoy playing games on cell phones and computers, a good distraction and fun, however, in reality, the electronic game may be playing them. Especially based on the necessity for electronics in today’s society. Nature provides a perfect playground with infinite possibilities for creativity and amusement. Some of us, like myself, request the assistance of a child or children who remind the adults to take the time to play. We need to follow the lead of the children who have pure heart’s and practice presence daily and see the possibilities.
Take a couple of minutes to walk outside and look up at the sky. Observe the many different cloud formations and imagine that you are looking at a flying dragon, a Unicorn, or an angel. Then when you begin your day with that “long list” of things to do, you will see that somehow it all gets done. At the end of this day, you will remember the angel in the sky you saw and the message of love it brings.
When you go to the grocery store with your “long list” of things to get and look down and somehow your cart is full. Stop and look around and simply smile at another “busy” shopper. It is nice when someone asks you where the olives are? (Especially when you remember where they are!) We miss so many opportunities when we see life as just another day, the same, like “groundhog day.” You see, our “autopilot” has a way of completing the work of the day and driving us home, and we take a little thought. The “doing” has happened while our hearts long to bring forth the light of joy through expression and manifestation. Giving us an infinite energy and an inner desire to smile to our heart.
“Energy is an eternal delight.”
-William Blake
Cinthia McFeature, PhD
Reference
Goldsmith, J. S. (1986). Practicing the presence. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
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