Last week I promised that I’d compile a list of your responses to my question “What do I want to walk out of this with that I don’t have right now?” (I’m referring, of course, to the unprecedented times we find ourselves in.)
Thank you to those who sent your reflections on that question. I’m grateful for your input as it allows us to learn from and support each other in the coming weeks and months.
Enjoy the wonderful mix of responses from your fellow humans–and thank you for being part of this community. We are stronger together.
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“This forced slowing down is a game-changer for me. I’ve been running fast for a long time. An awareness has already risen in me that this is a sacred space to lift my eyes up from my road and see things that I haven’t taken the time to look at.
So, here is what has already presented itself.
• connection – there is plenty of time to make those calls and send those texts that I have been meaning to
• disciplined practices – there is plenty of time to do that meditation, pray, practice that morning and evening routine
• creativity – there is plenty of time to pull out those pencils/fabric/yarn and create
Weirdly, I’m also buying a home at this very moment. I am profoundly aware that I have the time to do all the things required to make that happen. I would have been really pressed to respond to all these e-mails and calls a few weeks ago.”
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“I’d like to have strong friendships in my remote rural area.”
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“I want to know that my kids have weathered this storm. I believe I’ll be OK no matter what.”
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“There are three things I hope to get out of this that I don’t already have right now.
First, for me, I hope to better learn that my value and worth is not always bound in ‘doing.’ Already in less than a week I feel myself struggling with this. This will be a learning hard in coming, but I think will serve me well and help me build more empathy for those who are not capable of always ’doing.’
Second, for my 12-year-old daughter, I hope I can gently nudge her to learn how to be OK with and thrive in stillness, calmness, boredom. To see this temporary pausing in life as an opportunity to expand her brain, explore her thoughts and connect with her tweenage self that is still emerging.
And third, for all of us in this crazy human race, I hope to palpably feel a renewed sense of kindness and kinship with and between people. I’m already seeing and experiencing unselfish kindness and connection within my neighborhood, but I need and want to see it beyond. Way beyond.”
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“Gratitude and mindfulness.”
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“When I learned that the best advice I could follow was to stay at home, I welcomed the opportunity to slow down and catch up on rest. I’m currently reading David Whyte’s Consolations, a collection of short essays on the underlying meaning of everyday words. Whyte’s discussion of “rest” concludes with these thoughts:
“Rested, we are ready for the world but not held hostage by it, rested we care again for the right things and the right people in the right way. In rest we reestablish the goals that make us more generous, more courageous, more of an invitation, someone we want to remember, and someone others would want to remember too.”
When my “stay at home” time is over, I want to be rested in the best way.”
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“I want to get in touch with my creativity so that it’s flowing through me! In “regular” busy life, I so rarely ponder my creativity, yet alone access it. Writing, playing the piano, coming up with creative fun ways to be present with and stimulate my little kids, and perhaps something new. So much good comes from releasing my creative energy; what would “regular” life look like if creativity was flowing through me?”
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“On a large scale what I want to walk out of this with that I don’t have right now: feeling human kindness and compassion is the norm.
On a personal level what I want to walk out of this with that I don’t have right now: to consistently be of service that makes this world and planet a better place, a loving place.”
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“First thought: Freedom from the stacks of paper in my house—should have time to change a few habits.
More seriously: Ability to pause to seek a wider perspective, to be quiet and listen; desiring a better connection to the Divine.”
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“I want to use this time to take the concepts that I know (and value) out of my head and practice bringing them into my heart and body. Things like stillness, compassion, flexibility, empathy, resilience, playfulness, presence and love.”
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“I want to listen better, love more and allow myself to feel the grief AND the tenderness that’s oozing on the planet right now.”
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“Steady work and a deeper relationship with my girlfriend.”
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“I want to be more intentional about how I channel my energy so that I can bring more good into the world. I’m not sure how that’s going to manifest but there are going to be a million ways to help.”
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“More creative ways of connection.”
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“I want to be one of the helpers.”
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“What do I want to walk out of this with? HOPE.”
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Please keep sending your reflections on what matters to you right now. I’m listening….and send much love. xo