Slowing Down to Catch Up with Myself
A Year of Noticing - Day 227
In our fast past world, it can be easy and tempting to fill up our life and our days with doing one thing or another, going one place or another, and not allow times for pause and reflection.
And yet, in the moments of pause, in the slowing down is when I notice.
It’s like those days when you are on the go, and you only realize how tired you are when you actually take a moment to sit down.
It can feel easier to just keep going…
And yet, in the moments of pause, is when our truth emerges and when I allow myself the space and time to honour what is coming up.
Today was one of those days, a full day of holding space for others. After eating some dinner, I knew I could go back to my computer to work… and I made the choice instead to go outside and walk around the block.
Within the first ten steps, the tears started to seep from the bottom of my eyes. Where did these emotions come from?
Certainly they were there all the time, but when I was moving from one thing to another, they didn’t really have the time to move and be released.
And I kept walking, tears bubbling up as I breathed some of the deepest breaths I had taken all day.
I kept walking, and breathing, and found the rhythm of my footsteps soothing, and the solid ground beneath me supportive.
In times of the greatest upheaval and transition, of change and uncertainty I have found long walks, without music or podcasts, just me and Mother Nature to be one of the most comforting and healing parts of my past year.
When I’m walking, I notice the parts of life that are constant. The moon shining overhead, as the sun is setting in front of me - each day rising and setting, no matter what else is going on in the world… these cycles continue day after day, month after month, year after year, and I find it soothing and comforting.
The animals I encounter often surprise me, and if I wasn’t paying close attention I could easily walk right past (and I’m sure there are many that I have continued past without noticing!)
Today, as I kept walking, I encountered a small group of deer taking advantage of an empty lot, feasting on the growing grass…
They all seemed relaxed as they enjoyed the lushness of the grass, and weren’t at all bothered by my presence. The deer remind me about living in harmony with nature, trusting and relaxing when there isn’t a threat or stress… enjoy the moment!
Later as I walked past this location, the deer had moved on… and then I spotted them ahead of me, meandering through the houses along the river, and slowing cars down as they crossed the road!
Following their own path, as they curiously seemed to explore and I slowed down also as they crossed my path, wanting to give them distance and not be startled by my presence. As the deer scampered across the street, I noticed a new skip in my step… I felt like Dorothy and her friends skipping along the yellow brick road with lightness, hope and joy.
Allowing space and time to walk, feeling the comforting presence of nature, and pausing from the doing allowed the emotions to move through me and I came home feeling lighter, more present, grounded and hopeful.
Slowing down, and creating moments of pause and presence, can allow space for small shifts or big shifts, and space to notice and process through emotions instead of stifling or ignoring them!
xo
Another time I felt comforted by the constant presence in life…
Under the Same Sky: A Canvas of Love and Beauty
I have been noticing that when the world gets a bit (or a lot) loud, I am drawn to the skies. As I walked out of this house this afternoon, I noticed the brilliant golden skies in the west showcasing the setting sun, and then I glanced up to see the waxing moon glowing so brightly overhead.