Be still

One of my favourite parts about writing is when my writing moves people enough that they come talk to me about it or it makes them take action in their own lives. Some even reach out to me and offer advice or suggestions.

Paula (remember her?) came to me the other day to discuss my blog post To settle or not to settle. Her advice to me was "don't settle". She suggested that I take time to be still and let the dust fall. That I might be surprised how things turn out. 

My friend Susan also suggested that I "challenge" myself to not take on a challenge when I was asking friends, online, to suggest potential challenges. 

My cousin Marie-Josée suggested meditation or yoga. And I got a couple of comments from helpful and friendly readers leading me to others who've discussed the unexpected emptiness of minimalism.

The other night I was watching a TED talk by Pico Iyer called Where is home? In this TED talk, near the end, Pico quotes Seneca. It was one of the quotes I've written in my recent blog post Timeless wisdom.  
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor". 
He didn't exactly quote it the same way.

In this same talk, he talks about being still. 
"But I do think it's only by stopping movement that you can see where to go. And it's only by stepping out of your life and the world that you can see what you most deeply care about and find a home."
Along with my writing moving people to action, I also love when seemingly unrelated things bring me to the same realizations. When they point me in the same direction - especially when it feels like the right direction.

It's true, I've been pushing myself to get things figured out. To make things happen. Maybe a little too much. Perhaps it's time for me to be still and let the dust settle. I've been through a lot in the past year or so.

I've been meaning to formally start meditating. Or (and I can't remember where I read this but) just sit and do nothing. No phone, no music, no TV, no talking, reading or writing. Just sitting. I suppose this could be considered meditating, but not calling it "meditation" makes it seem less intimidating for me.

So this is what I'll be doing, at least until the end of the year and maybe for a little while into the next. I'll be still. I'll continue to go to work, spend time with friends and family, read, write, go on dates and participate in life. I just won't add any pressure for myself to take on a new challenge. Not yet anyway.

We're coming to a usually hectic time of year what with the holidays and all. It'll be nice to deliberately "not try" for a while. The universe seems to have spoken, and I'll heed it's advice. Once I feel like the dust has settled enough, I'll explore my options on how to fill the unexpected emptiness with something meaningful to me. Maybe the emptiness eventually won't feel as empty on its own. But regardless, for the time being, I'll just be still.

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1. Pico Lyer: Where is home?

Comments

  1. Sounds like a great decision to me. I am amazed and impressed at how you have changed so much in your life in such a short time. You deserve a break. Let that dust settle and enjoy the holidays.

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