The holidays are drawing to a close. The kings are almost at the manger and our celebrations of light, birth and renewal are giving way to days that are growing lighter and to our focus on what’s new and next.
It’s so easy to get lost in goal setting and resolution making and breaking that we forget that the secret of being present and giving thanks is the richest fertilizer for the soil in which our dreams are already taking root. It’s a mind-bending paradox that suggests that the best way to position us to achieve our goals and fulfill our desires in the imagined future is to be fully present to our lives right this minute. It’s the old Be Here Now of Baba Ram Dass, or The Power of Now (Eckert Tolle) or “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (The Bible).
One of my goals for ’09 is to be present as much as possible. What this means to me is that when I notice that I am driving around ruminating about this or that or worrying about him or her and dwelling on past events that have bugged me or future events I am concerned about – that I stop, take a deep breath and bring myself back to the moment – look around and realize that without those thoughts, life is pretty good and I am fine in ’09. When I can quiet those “monkey mind” tapes that are the constant background chatter going on in my head, I get a glimpse of a very peaceful and beauful place in which I live and exist – inside and out. So much so that I think, “What was all that fuss about?”
Last year I enjoyed a visit from college friends and we tooled around the island and spent hours sitting on my deck celebrating our long time enduring friendships and laughing a lot. One day when we 3 had left my house and were sitting in my car, I realized I had forgotten something in my cottage. I got out of the car, walked back to my front door and put the key in the lock. When I turned it and opened the door I was struck by how my one room cottage glowed in its fresh coat of buttery yellow paint mixed with sunlight and the sea. My little poodles were already set for the day sleeping, and the place had a feeling of deep peace and silence. I didn’t want to disturb anything so I got my forgotten item and tip toed back to the car. I was laughing as I said to my friends: “Wow, my home is so peaceful when I’m not there!” It felt like a little moment of enlightenment and I have remembered and treasured being hit by the peace and light of my home in my heart.
We all have a peaceful place full of buttery light that nourishes and refreshes us and reminds us that there is nothing to be, do or have. We just have to take a deep breath, turn down the volume on our constantly chattering minds, look around and tip toe into our place of joy and enlightenment – even if its just for a brief moment to start with. It’s the pause that refreshes and transforms.
I wish you a year full of such moments; a year full of inspired actions rather than frantic TO Do Lists. My wish for all of us in this New Year is the gift of being present and of realizing that YOU in the NOW are the best gift you’ll ever give or receive.
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