The many years I have been practicing Presence
have taught me to be present
to whatever is happening in my life,
whether I be watching a butterfly drift from flower to flower,
or have my elbows buried in a sink full of dish water.
In both cases
I am ‘doing’ something,
as Charlie has pointed out.
In the first instance
I am engaged in a mystical relationship with a butterfly and a flower,
but still doing something . . .
watching, paying attention,
and being present to the activity.
In the second,
I am feeling the warm, soapy water
caress my arms,
the sponge in my hand,
and the swirl of water as i wipe out the spaghetti pot,
paying attention
to the movement,
the scent,
and the warmth of water . . .
paying attention to the process
and thus being fully participating in it.
I think that ‘being’ and ‘doing’
can be different aspects of the same thing . . .
simply paying attention
and being present
to whatever is before me in the moment.
Practicing this
enriches my experience of both the butterfly
and the soapy water,
and creates more thread in the tapestry of both watching the butterfly
and in washing the pot,
making the experience . . .
the same experience
all that much richer and deeper,
and adds more weight to what I am doing . . .
making a bigger space for it
in my memory bank.
So today,
while I was doing,
I was also being,
and although I didn’t sing while vacuuming,
like Ngoc,
I hummed
while cleaning out the refrigerator
and experienced something new. ♥
Each time I take the opportunity to sit and just be with my creator, or those times that I am captured and taken beyond myself in the moment, I am just being.
I try each day to carve out time each day to just be, and the fruits of those moments spill into my active life so sometimes I am aware of just being in the activity.
Just to be is a blessing, just to live is holy
-Abraham Joshua Heschel
Even if I prioritize being over doing, aren’t I still in the process of doing? And if by being, you mean sitting in contemplation or meditation and not physically doing something, aren’t I still doing something.
I guess I get the question, as much of our lives are spent being needlessly busy. I see it more as prioritizing doing things that I want to do, versus doing things that I have to do. Now, it does take an effort on my part to prioritize these things and I don’t prioritize myself often enough. There is a guilt that nags me for not constantly doing the things that I need to do to survive.
I’m finding this question confusing and I look forward to see how you all answered the question.
Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday. 🙏
Probably last night. I was quite upset, and feeling very anxious. When the extreme of this happens I feel it deeply in my body- tight jaw, headache, nauseous, and aches and pains. It sounds like I was sick, but I know that intense emotions affect me physically in that way. So I just laid in bed and relaxed as much as I could. Today I am better and on Monday I will see my therapist and begin the process of seeing what I can do to make positive change.
Yesterday when I went to a secular ritual event and this morning when my son and daughter-in-law took me to visit a butterfly atrium and botanical garden in Kansas City. The butterflies were awesome and the gardens beautiful and educational…
I visited a butterfly atrium and botanical garden
when I was on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls,
dear Carol . . .
it was a completely magical experience.
Thank you for the memory. ♥
Today is off and on rainy so I am prioritizing just being. I did find a beautiful church today though this morning. I happen to find it because the priest that did my son’s first communion was just transferred there. Very contemporary with their music, lots of light coming in from gorgeous stain glass windows and of course a great priest. Just felt like exactly what I was looking for 🙏🌞
Every morning as I read the comments and reflect. Every evening when I write in my journal and summarize the day.
When I watch the birds enjoying the bird bath.
The book called, Let Them inspired me to be mindful of the fact of trying to be totally in control of things that are out of your control is not healthy.
I’ve been generally trying to prioritize being in the last couple of days. It helps to be in a situation where there is little more I can do. If I try to do I drive myself nuts.
It’s been a while since I even considered the concept of being, but I’m open. Today I would like to write, maybe only come up with a story idea. I may watch “The Conversation with Gene Hackman.” Lot of doing I suppose. A win: this morning I thought about my day alone in the condo a little deflated, but the thought came, today is a gift. It’s a beautiful idea!
I’m prioritizing being a “human being” rather than a “human doing.” Most of the time, I only work on things I find joy in, otherwise, I’d rather not do them. For example, I vacuumed yesterday. I enjoyed it because I could sing while doing it, which made it fun.
My Ngoc, someone has to take up the mopping. I’m happy to take on that even though it’s not the most enjoyable. Seeing you do more of what brings you joy brings me joy too. It multiplies. A slogan my high school basketball buddy, Kyle, has that I live by is “I will pass before I shoot.” Knowing that, at the end of the day, I’ll never be short on doing things that bring me joy.
Last evening. I sat on my porch & watched the clouds coming & going & the sky change colors as the sun set. Listened to the birds singing & chirping. It was quite lovely to just be & observe.
I felt peaceful & content.
Happy Sunday to All. 🕊️🩷
Stay cool & hydrated…going to be HOT here in the Midwest. 🥵💦
Yesterday at Lake Norman. It was so nice to get in that lake! They have a floating border around the beach’s swimming area at the state park, and I propped my legs up on that border and just floated for quite some time. Floating is heavenly and one of my favorite things to do! To me, it’s an ultimate act of letting go. Just being there under the beautiful blue sky, soaking up the sun and the vibe…. ahhhhh….
I’m actually feeling the opposite, I need to prioritize doing .. been lazy enough lately.
Wishing everyone a peaceful relaxing Sunday – whether you are ‘being’ or ‘doing’ ☮
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The many years I have been practicing Presence
have taught me to be present
to whatever is happening in my life,
whether I be watching a butterfly drift from flower to flower,
or have my elbows buried in a sink full of dish water.
In both cases
I am ‘doing’ something,
as Charlie has pointed out.
In the first instance
I am engaged in a mystical relationship with a butterfly and a flower,
but still doing something . . .
watching, paying attention,
and being present to the activity.
In the second,
I am feeling the warm, soapy water
caress my arms,
the sponge in my hand,
and the swirl of water as i wipe out the spaghetti pot,
paying attention
to the movement,
the scent,
and the warmth of water . . .
paying attention to the process
and thus being fully participating in it.
I think that ‘being’ and ‘doing’
can be different aspects of the same thing . . .
simply paying attention
and being present
to whatever is before me in the moment.
Practicing this
enriches my experience of both the butterfly
and the soapy water,
and creates more thread in the tapestry of both watching the butterfly
and in washing the pot,
making the experience . . .
the same experience
all that much richer and deeper,
and adds more weight to what I am doing . . .
making a bigger space for it
in my memory bank.
So today,
while I was doing,
I was also being,
and although I didn’t sing while vacuuming,
like Ngoc,
I hummed
while cleaning out the refrigerator
and experienced something new. ♥
Each time I take the opportunity to sit and just be with my creator, or those times that I am captured and taken beyond myself in the moment, I am just being.
I try each day to carve out time each day to just be, and the fruits of those moments spill into my active life so sometimes I am aware of just being in the activity.
Just to be is a blessing, just to live is holy
-Abraham Joshua Heschel
”Just to be is a blessing, just to live is holy.”
Thank you for posting this,
dear Cathie . . . ♥
Even if I prioritize being over doing, aren’t I still in the process of doing? And if by being, you mean sitting in contemplation or meditation and not physically doing something, aren’t I still doing something.
I guess I get the question, as much of our lives are spent being needlessly busy. I see it more as prioritizing doing things that I want to do, versus doing things that I have to do. Now, it does take an effort on my part to prioritize these things and I don’t prioritize myself often enough. There is a guilt that nags me for not constantly doing the things that I need to do to survive.
I’m finding this question confusing and I look forward to see how you all answered the question.
Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday. 🙏
Being is the absence of striving for being.
Probably last night. I was quite upset, and feeling very anxious. When the extreme of this happens I feel it deeply in my body- tight jaw, headache, nauseous, and aches and pains. It sounds like I was sick, but I know that intense emotions affect me physically in that way. So I just laid in bed and relaxed as much as I could. Today I am better and on Monday I will see my therapist and begin the process of seeing what I can do to make positive change.
There might be something waiting within,
dear Mary,
to heal
or perhaps to teach you.
I hold you in my heart
as you pass through this unwanted gift. ♥
Thank you Sparrow. ♥️
Yesterday when I went to a secular ritual event and this morning when my son and daughter-in-law took me to visit a butterfly atrium and botanical garden in Kansas City. The butterflies were awesome and the gardens beautiful and educational…
Your reflection reminded me of when I went to The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory – beautiful.
I visited a butterfly atrium and botanical garden
when I was on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls,
dear Carol . . .
it was a completely magical experience.
Thank you for the memory. ♥
Today is off and on rainy so I am prioritizing just being. I did find a beautiful church today though this morning. I happen to find it because the priest that did my son’s first communion was just transferred there. Very contemporary with their music, lots of light coming in from gorgeous stain glass windows and of course a great priest. Just felt like exactly what I was looking for 🙏🌞
The church sounds wonderful !
Every morning as I read the comments and reflect. Every evening when I write in my journal and summarize the day.
When I watch the birds enjoying the bird bath.
Evenings accompanied by birds in the bird bath sound like a peaceful retreat.
♥
The book called, Let Them inspired me to be mindful of the fact of trying to be totally in control of things that are out of your control is not healthy.
I’ve been generally trying to prioritize being in the last couple of days. It helps to be in a situation where there is little more I can do. If I try to do I drive myself nuts.
❤️🙏
Thank you Joseph.
Sending you a big hug!
Thank you Carol 💗.
The ministry of presence is a gift for all. I am sheltering you and your friend in love.
Thank you, dear Yram.
It’s been a while since I even considered the concept of being, but I’m open. Today I would like to write, maybe only come up with a story idea. I may watch “The Conversation with Gene Hackman.” Lot of doing I suppose. A win: this morning I thought about my day alone in the condo a little deflated, but the thought came, today is a gift. It’s a beautiful idea!
I’m prioritizing being a “human being” rather than a “human doing.” Most of the time, I only work on things I find joy in, otherwise, I’d rather not do them. For example, I vacuumed yesterday. I enjoyed it because I could sing while doing it, which made it fun.
Music always help me just BE.
I love this,
dear Ngoc . . .
now,
I will be thinking of you
every time I vacuum. 🙂
My Ngoc, someone has to take up the mopping. I’m happy to take on that even though it’s not the most enjoyable. Seeing you do more of what brings you joy brings me joy too. It multiplies. A slogan my high school basketball buddy, Kyle, has that I live by is “I will pass before I shoot.” Knowing that, at the end of the day, I’ll never be short on doing things that bring me joy.
Last evening. I sat on my porch & watched the clouds coming & going & the sky change colors as the sun set. Listened to the birds singing & chirping. It was quite lovely to just be & observe.
I felt peaceful & content.
Happy Sunday to All. 🕊️🩷
Stay cool & hydrated…going to be HOT here in the Midwest. 🥵💦
Agreed. I don’t remember it being this hot here for these long periods of time.
Yesterday. I had several items remaining on my to do list but decided not to jam any more doing into my day and read a book instead.
Right on, Laura. Hope you had a nice relaxing read and the book was good.
Yesterday at Lake Norman. It was so nice to get in that lake! They have a floating border around the beach’s swimming area at the state park, and I propped my legs up on that border and just floated for quite some time. Floating is heavenly and one of my favorite things to do! To me, it’s an ultimate act of letting go. Just being there under the beautiful blue sky, soaking up the sun and the vibe…. ahhhhh….
I will be floating on a lake at the end of this month. it is the norm at my friend’s cottage and agreed so relaxing!
So nice! I love lakes.
I’m actually feeling the opposite, I need to prioritize doing .. been lazy enough lately.
Wishing everyone a peaceful relaxing Sunday – whether you are ‘being’ or ‘doing’ ☮
Michele, I see where you’re going with this. Complacency is a root of evil. It’s one of the drawbacks to Type B personalities like me.