More frequently put in the “stop signs”, as brother David says in his Ted talk, so that I can more often pause and savor what is in front of me in the moment.
be present and be with you, be with dear friends and loved ones, with nature and all which is, enjoying what is and gratefully be in the moment. Thank you.
Music, Dance: this moment is precious. My son fooling around, laughing: this moment is precious. Feeling yesterdays workout still in my muscles: this moment is precious.
Knowing that everything will change, nothing lasts. I will die one day, and so will all my loved ones. But today I am alive.
Laying in bed, writing here: this moment is precious.
Sip in more of the scents of honeysuckles or flowers when I notice them on walks. Notice the length of the birdsong in the morning. Eat my meals consciously. Continue seeking knowledge and really allow it to sink in. Be thankful that my husband wants to hold my hand while we’re walking the dogs and feel that connection and love we share. And continue to be grateful each day, remembering what a gift it is to be alive and on the journey of my life.
Came back to add – eat as many mulberries as I can when passing trees on our walks! There are so many of them on the trails around the city, and they are delicious!
What can I do to savor more of my life?
I was happily savoring my life this morning,
when I was abruptly and surprisingly confronted by an amazingly tender song,
almost a lullaby,
telling the story of a family bombed in their home in Gaza.
They were all killed,
but an infant was taken from her dying mother’s womb.
The question was
if the girlchild lives
what will her life be?
Will she live or will she join her mother in death?
Another heartbreaking story
in the middle of a crush of heartbreaking stories . . .
I am so deeply saddened
by what has happened to our beautiful little planet
that I really have no words.
Who is dying today
in Ukraine,
the Middle East,
North Africa?
Some days I can hardly bear to live my life out here
in my peaceful garden
with the birds and the rabbits,
knowing of the horrors being committed ‘out there.’
My peaceful world here
is a deception.
Sometimes
it’s almost impossible to savor anything
when I think of the millions of people in the world
who are suffering at the hands of others
seeking power and control . . .
there is something very wrong with a world
that harbors and shelters
such evil.
I struggle with similar thoughts and feelings, Sparrow. I am turning to the Revolutionary Love Compass ( https://revolutionarylove.org/learn/#compass ) , developed by Valarie Kaur, to help me. She speaks of the importance of grieving all that is going on, especially grieving in community (which is kind of what you are doing by sharing with us your deep grief over the tragedy in Gaza, and what we are doing by sharing with your grief). And of allowing rage to move through us in safe spaces (through dancing, creating music or art or maybe just screaming!– the possibilities are endless) And of doing concrete things to help as we alternate between “push”ing for a better world and “breathe”ing to replenish ourselves. And surrounding the whole compass is JOY! We need to keep our joy to nourish us in this work. I feel like enjoying and savoring my backyard can give me energy to face what is broken in our world. I also want to make sure I don’t stop at the savoring and move forward to finding “what is my part” of what I can do to help out in this world. I can’t do everything, but I can do something, and if each of us does something, we can make a huge change.
I do savor my gardens
and all who dwell therein,
and as you said,
dear Elizabeth,
doing so
gives me the energy to move more positively
through my day . . .
it reminds me
that not everything is broken . . .
I am looking into the Revolutionary Love Compass idea
as well.
Thank you so much
for your caring and thoughtful post,
dear one . . . ♥
sharing does help.
The collective madness of the human being. Mankind’s in humanity to Mankind. For all who are living in a conflict free zone, the peaceful world is truly a deception. I must savor every moment for I have squandered many, dear Sparrow.
I can just try to be more present. The majority of my waking hours are spent working, but even while working, I can be present and look around, stop and notice the world around me.
Let things fall apart. I think if I stop straining to hold things together, and instead let them fall apart, which must be a form of surrender, then space for savoring can open up.
Good insight Drea.
It would do me good to just let things happen without intervening.
If I could relax with letting loved ones be who they have always been, life would be easier.
I wrote a poem many years ago called a “Sacred Pause.” It was inspired by a book written by a dear friend, Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr (RIP) called “Sacred Pauses.” It’s a reminder to notice and savor the little gifts that are happening in my life every day.
Sacred Pause
A smile,
a loving wish,
kittens at play,
a cooing baby,
a relaxing yawn,
maple trees in the Fall,
my own voice singing to me through me,
snow flakes falling gently,
a hug,
laughter,
the miracle of a seed,
a gentle rain,
a hot cup of tea,
a ripe tomato,
music from a single violin,
silence,
all offer a sacred pause.
I would also say that today’s quote from the Dalai Lama: (“The period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult period in one’s life…Through a difficult period you can learn; you can develop inner strength, determination, and courage to face the problems.”) is true for me. It is a reminder that even the most difficult of times are hard to savor but have offered me the chance to grow. Fr. Richard Rohr calls that process “Falling Upward.” Those times taught me the difference between submission and surrender. To this day, they sparks feelings of both joy and sorrow in my body.
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More frequently put in the “stop signs”, as brother David says in his Ted talk, so that I can more often pause and savor what is in front of me in the moment.
Relax and be in the present.
Thank you for the question, a good reminder!
Sing, dance, pray, be with the ones I love. And when not still be present with whomever I am with.
be present and be with you, be with dear friends and loved ones, with nature and all which is, enjoying what is and gratefully be in the moment. Thank you.
Notice the moments.
Music, Dance: this moment is precious. My son fooling around, laughing: this moment is precious. Feeling yesterdays workout still in my muscles: this moment is precious.
Knowing that everything will change, nothing lasts. I will die one day, and so will all my loved ones. But today I am alive.
Laying in bed, writing here: this moment is precious.
“Notice the moments.” YES!
Beautiful, and so true!
Thank you, Judith. 🌷
Pay attention! So often I am lost in thoughts about the past or the future–I am going to be present today!
Me too, Linda!
To respect that each event is a blessing.
Sip in more of the scents of honeysuckles or flowers when I notice them on walks. Notice the length of the birdsong in the morning. Eat my meals consciously. Continue seeking knowledge and really allow it to sink in. Be thankful that my husband wants to hold my hand while we’re walking the dogs and feel that connection and love we share. And continue to be grateful each day, remembering what a gift it is to be alive and on the journey of my life.
Came back to add – eat as many mulberries as I can when passing trees on our walks! There are so many of them on the trails around the city, and they are delicious!
What can I do to savor more of my life?
I was happily savoring my life this morning,
when I was abruptly and surprisingly confronted by an amazingly tender song,
almost a lullaby,
telling the story of a family bombed in their home in Gaza.
They were all killed,
but an infant was taken from her dying mother’s womb.
The question was
if the girlchild lives
what will her life be?
Will she live or will she join her mother in death?
Another heartbreaking story
in the middle of a crush of heartbreaking stories . . .
I am so deeply saddened
by what has happened to our beautiful little planet
that I really have no words.
Who is dying today
in Ukraine,
the Middle East,
North Africa?
Some days I can hardly bear to live my life out here
in my peaceful garden
with the birds and the rabbits,
knowing of the horrors being committed ‘out there.’
My peaceful world here
is a deception.
Sometimes
it’s almost impossible to savor anything
when I think of the millions of people in the world
who are suffering at the hands of others
seeking power and control . . .
there is something very wrong with a world
that harbors and shelters
such evil.
Are we evolving at all?
I struggle with similar thoughts and feelings, Sparrow. I am turning to the Revolutionary Love Compass ( https://revolutionarylove.org/learn/#compass ) , developed by Valarie Kaur, to help me. She speaks of the importance of grieving all that is going on, especially grieving in community (which is kind of what you are doing by sharing with us your deep grief over the tragedy in Gaza, and what we are doing by sharing with your grief). And of allowing rage to move through us in safe spaces (through dancing, creating music or art or maybe just screaming!– the possibilities are endless) And of doing concrete things to help as we alternate between “push”ing for a better world and “breathe”ing to replenish ourselves. And surrounding the whole compass is JOY! We need to keep our joy to nourish us in this work. I feel like enjoying and savoring my backyard can give me energy to face what is broken in our world. I also want to make sure I don’t stop at the savoring and move forward to finding “what is my part” of what I can do to help out in this world. I can’t do everything, but I can do something, and if each of us does something, we can make a huge change.
I do savor my gardens
and all who dwell therein,
and as you said,
dear Elizabeth,
doing so
gives me the energy to move more positively
through my day . . .
it reminds me
that not everything is broken . . .
I am looking into the Revolutionary Love Compass idea
as well.
Thank you so much
for your caring and thoughtful post,
dear one . . . ♥
sharing does help.
The collective madness of the human being. Mankind’s in humanity to Mankind. For all who are living in a conflict free zone, the peaceful world is truly a deception. I must savor every moment for I have squandered many, dear Sparrow.
I have too,
dear Joseph . . .
that is why I must savor as much as I can now,
in honour of the people who are suffering the most. ♥
Praying for your heart today. I truly understand you 🙏🏼❤️
Thank you,
dear Claire . . .
sometimes
it overwhelms me.
I can just try to be more present. The majority of my waking hours are spent working, but even while working, I can be present and look around, stop and notice the world around me.
In order to savor more of my life I will stay present. I will be present in the now.
🕊️🩷
Let things fall apart. I think if I stop straining to hold things together, and instead let them fall apart, which must be a form of surrender, then space for savoring can open up.
Oh I needed this
Good insight Drea.
It would do me good to just let things happen without intervening.
If I could relax with letting loved ones be who they have always been, life would be easier.
Mary, yes! Thank you. Let people be who they are and who they have always been. I might make a little sticky note reminder for myself.
☀️
Reminds me of the book “When things fall apart” by Pema Chödrön.
Me too. I need to listen to that one again.
Drea, I agree. Releasing must happen in order to gather and move forward.
Yes. And it’s hard to remember to release sometimes (or even to sense that I’m grabbing onto something).
I wrote a poem many years ago called a “Sacred Pause.” It was inspired by a book written by a dear friend, Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr (RIP) called “Sacred Pauses.” It’s a reminder to notice and savor the little gifts that are happening in my life every day.
Sacred Pause
A smile,
a loving wish,
kittens at play,
a cooing baby,
a relaxing yawn,
maple trees in the Fall,
my own voice singing to me through me,
snow flakes falling gently,
a hug,
laughter,
the miracle of a seed,
a gentle rain,
a hot cup of tea,
a ripe tomato,
music from a single violin,
silence,
all offer a sacred pause.
I would also say that today’s quote from the Dalai Lama: (“The period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult period in one’s life…Through a difficult period you can learn; you can develop inner strength, determination, and courage to face the problems.”) is true for me. It is a reminder that even the most difficult of times are hard to savor but have offered me the chance to grow. Fr. Richard Rohr calls that process “Falling Upward.” Those times taught me the difference between submission and surrender. To this day, they sparks feelings of both joy and sorrow in my body.
Thanks for the beautiful poem, Sacred Pause, Carol. 🌷🌷🌷
I enjoyed reading your poem Sacred Pause, thank you for sharing Carol.
Thank you Carol for sharing your poem, Sacred Pause. A beautiful sentiment. 🩷
Thank you for sharing your poem, Carol. I savor those kinds of sacred pauses, too.
What a lovely poem,
dear Carol . . .
reminding me
that everything in our world
can offer a ‘sacred pause’ . . . ♥
Stay humble. Receive care from multiple angles. The more I’m able to receive, the easier it is for me to give it my way.
So true, Loc Tran! The more that we are able to be open to receiving, the easier it is to give.”
Focus on happy moments and accept unwanted occurrences as ways that I can savor my life.
My Ngoc, we have a lot of those together.