Oh How I miss the Quiet

Catching up around the water cooler is a handy social time waster. But do you really care about the long version of my “event” whatever it was? Do the stories of all the quirky people I saw at the airport while I waited for a three hour flight delay, add anything to your life?

I am nearing the finish line of my year of Slow. This year, I’ve slowed down enough to notice how people fill up their time. I know that I am outside of the norm in guarding this most important commodity. I wish I had more of it, always. I am dogged about finding a few moments to do the things that fill my soul, to give back my energy and my learning to someone who would appreciate it.

My Sweetie and I were at a wonderful musical event last week but then the evening went on and on. Great value for your money for sure, an encore that left most of the audience standing in appreciation. But, we’d had enough. Thank goodness we usually agree on our tolerance for "noise".

We needed Quiet, we needed to talk about the melodies we’d heard and the jokes that seemed unrehearsed, we’d had enough. Not many years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to recognize my need. I would no doubt have stood and cheered the playing of song after song although I had grown weary.

Last week I was able to stop. Maybe it's my age, and diminishing need to be polite. Maybe, I am finally happy being still. Slowing down has helped me find a peaceful clarity of understanding. Knowing that this was my time to give and that the musicians, regardless of how good they were had taken enough from me.

The decision was made.

Good night.

Let’s go home.


How much Quiet do you crave? (Click to Tweet)

How much "Noise" can you tolerate? (Click to Tweet)


If you'd like to start thinking about adopting a Word for next year, check out OneWord365 and start planning! 

Capable

 

So what will you do today to astound yourself?

I know a young man who discovered at the age of 30 that he could run! And I mean RUN. He joined a friend who had been training for weeks in a local race and found out that he was fast. He came in second, put the medal around his neck and was hooked. Running came as a surprise talent to him. And he only found out because he tried.

What have been aching to try that you haven’t yet done. I waited until I was 54 to get involved with yoga. I wouldn’t say it came easily, but I proved to be more “bendy” than I had originally thought I’d be. These extraordinarily long arms came in handy to wrap where many couldn’t!

Have you been a doodler who likes to add drawings to your notes or on a flipchart (now doesn’t that age me?). Do you see things is pictures? Do you love to photograph a sunset? Why haven’t you taken that art or photography class you see in your community newsletter.

Have you always been uncomfortable in the water, guess what, there are adult classes for the deathly afraid. More than one triathlete learned to swim in order to participate.

What could you do today to astound yourself? Be brave and give it a try. (Click to Tweet)

Then let me know, so we can all celebrate together.

Broken Places

The world breaks everyone, 

and afterward, 

some are strong at the broken places.

 Ernest Hemingway

We all have broken places. If we have not been broken already, we can count on the fact that our turn will come. It is the Universe's way of making us take ourselves apart and only put back together the parts that are worthwhile.

Ask anyone who has lost their dream and they will tell you that this is how they discovered how little they needed. Fewer things, fewer wrong people, less advice. They were taken apart and they survived.

They were recreated into something better by losing something that they thought they needed. Sometimes it was a limb, an addiction, an abusing person, a house.

They put themselves back together with tears and glue like a broken cherished plate. Not quite the same but stronger for the experience. Reinforced at the wobbly pieces. Put together consciously, with care, showing wear and tear but still better.

Now ask the ones who were not able to reassemble. Ask them if they tried to put together their broken pieces. Ask others why they didn't try. Ask them if we can help.

The beauty of our learning is seeing each other's flaws and appreciating what it took to earn them. (Click to Tweet)

The Power of the Pause

My yoga teacher mentions The Power of the Pause when she's trying to distract us while we're doing a long hold. She talks about using "effortless effort" when we're facing challenging situations.

Imagine the Power we could maintain when someone cuts us off in traffic, or when we're craving quiet time in the staff room and someone won’t stop gushing about their last vacation. How often each day would the Power of the Pause be helpful in your life?

Power of the Pause

Some time ago a friend of mine told me that he refuses to get angry. When we get angry, he said, we have in essence given our Power away. We have risen to the bait, we have abandoned our best self and allowed someone else to negatively affect us. Also, he slyly said, if you don't respond it makes them crazy!

If we insert that pause in our day, we have the opportunity to gain perspective. Are we taking this too personally? Do I really want to agree to one more commitment? Do I really want to kiss this guy?

Stepping into the Pause takes practise and skill. It will be more difficult in some situations and you will be able to ease into others. We can use the Power of the Pause when we’re waiting in line to be served. Or even instead of constantly checking our phones for a reply. We can give ourself the Power of the Pause when we are learning a new yoga pose, starting a new job or painting or running program. 

We can give ourselves some breathing room to Pause. Our life will likely cease to be a whirlwind of action and we will certainly gain traction towards our real goals.

How The Power of the Pause gets you there as you need to be.(Click to Tweet)

What would change if you inserted The Power of the Pause into your day? (Click to Tweet)

Pause and read this wonderful piece by Maria Shriver. It is long but it is worth stopping your day. http://mariashriver.com/blog/2012/05/power-of-the-pause-maria-shriver-commencement-address/

And for ideas on inserting The Power of the Pause into our day from The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-earle-mcleod/pause_b_4737333.html