The freedom of just being in the moment

I wrote this about a week ago.

I feel such an opening around me lately.  I am so lucky not to have to work, to be dragged through the dog eat dog world of commerce in the outside world.  Sometimes when I am around that energy I can literally feel sick to my stomach with it.  I was somewhere the other day and I was looking at people with deep frowns on their faces.  It was truely sad.  I felt for them in that moment.

Surely life was not given to us to be full of misery and unending stress and sorrow but so many people are under so much pressure these days just to survive.  Certain sorrows and losses will come to us but it seems to me that when we open to receive them and be changed by them, then we make real progress.

I am also learning lately to stay out of my negative mindset.  There is a place in my mind where I think only negative thoughts centred on how people do not love me or show the necessary care, but what I have found is that this is not truely a reflection of how others feel and there are so many beautiful people out there in the world who I can relate to.

I had a lovely chat with my neighbour yesterday who stays home to care for her children about how difficult it is to connect with people in such a busy driven world.  She was saying how few of her friends actually make telephone calls any more, sending only texts because they are so busy.  I was so touched on the morning of my Mum’s funeral to go to the letter box and find a beautiful sympathy card from her and her family.  It seems to me so few people send cards any more.

We can say that technology is a great sign of progress and most certainly it brings benefits into our lives, but we must also be mindful not to lose touch with nature and with human connection, as well as with the slow natural pace and rhythms of nature.   This morning I am mindful that I want to touch the day with Jasper before getting too caught up in my blog.  There is a lovely holiday energy feel around about today and these hot sunny days are reminders of joy but I am also aware of the heat we are generating on this planet by the sheer force of our industry and busyness.  We most certainly need to be active and connected but we need to be in balance also.

Last night I spent too long on the computer after dinner and was aware of it by 10.30 pm.  I was in a different head and body space to what I could have been had I just sat quietly.  I find I am needing those quiet times lately, especially since my mother died.   I am enjoying the feeling of just being in the moment, touching base with the now.  I get pulled into past thoughts of my Mum at times and feel so sad for the way her life ended but I also remember how often she told me that each morning she woke up in her apartment she would look down at the park and the lake and remind herself how lucky she was.  I felt that way this morning.

I have my health and my lovely home and my dog and my blog and so many people who love me.  Today I count my blessings for all of these things and give thanks that I can feel that love around me and these days it is more present that past pain, negativity, hurt or fear.