Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Day Six



We have all been given the gift of our life. Think about it: you did nothing to deserve existence. You didn’t have to work at it, or earn it. It is a pure gift that you are here, and it is a gift that you are who you are. You were made to be this person, and no one else. 

This immense gift can reassure us, when we cut through all the noise of past decisions and future plans, that our lives really are golden. Regardless of how we make use of our time on Earth, we still carry the gift of our lives. The original value of that gift can never be diminished.

To do right by this gift may lead us to a place of anxious responsibility. But for Jill Scott, “living your life like it’s golden” isn’t about trying to live up to an ideal, or about trying to repay a debt that can never be repaid. It’s about knowing and being grateful for our own value, and treating ourselves accordingly. Staying grounded and confident in our worth, no matter what the world might throw at us.

Today, find a way to invest in yourself in some small way. Practice that grounding in and gratitude for your own worth and value by signing up for a class you’ve always wanted to take, or making the time to do the thing that always helps you feel centered, or maybe just wearing something that makes you feel especially you. When you shine brightly, from the truest parts of yourself out into the world, it often encourages others to do the same.

- Lee

11 comments:

  1. (From Ken) Hmmm...today's practice brought me up short. Helpfully so. At first my thoughts went to trainings, plans, financial investments in my personal/professional/spiritual development. But then I read the post again--"invest in yourself in some *small way"." I was thinking too big. So, I just brought a specific intention of gratitude to my daily seated meditation. Nothing new at all in that action for me. But an added awareness of appreciation for this ongoing investment in my growth.

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  2. Life... breath... the original blessing! Thank you I will be a conscious custodian of this very "precious" golden gift today!

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  3. I took time today to do something I really enjoy. This afternoon, I planted daffodil bulbs in the front garden. Very intentionally, with each promise of spring, a bulb was placed in the dark earth, and blessed, "May you be safe. May you be warm. May you be beautiful." Bulb after bulb. One, and then another. Each bulb a promise and the grateful continuity of creation.

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  4. This assignment was difficult for me. I've invested myself so much in so many things only to see them be destroyed that part of the depression that I'm being treated for includes this feeling that nothing is worth making an effort for; it's all pointless in the long run. Spirituality doesn't help me much in this respect because I keep running into this concept that everything is impermanent. I feel so acutely aware of impermanence that it impedes my ability to live a productive life because I know that nothing matters anyway. I even wrote a poem about this. Don't worry, I won't share it... but it is an ongoing theme for me. My pseudonym on facebook (yes, I'm a rule breaker) is Tabula Rasa. That's me: the blank slate...and now I'm being asked to invest myself in something? You have to be kidding.

    So here's what I did. I sorely need to reorganize my personal library and my office so that I can get my "permanent" (as if) altar set up *again* (permanent....riiiiight). I didn't want to do this (and still don't) because I know the kids and/or husband will ransack the whole project and it will be for nothing....yes it will... I *know* this. But I did it.... or I should say, I started it. I now have 563 books cataloged on LibraryThing by title, author. subject, and book shelf (20 shelves....so far) and the books themselves are labeled with the shelf number. It was a lot of work, and I'm not even halfway done...not even *almost* halfway, and that's not considering the work that needs to be done on the office and the altar. So if this was supposed to be a small investiture I think I picked the wrong project. My second choice was to relearn how to speak Italian after not taking any Italian classes in 12 years... so it wasn't going to be small either way. At least I worked on the thing that needed to be addressed before the floor space on the first floor of our house was swallowed up by books.

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  5. This one was easy for me. I had a really tough day yesterday and was feeling drained, beaten, chewed up and spit out. I sat in my office and prayed. Even though I was feeling terrible I began to think of ways to turn the situation around. Today I spent some time outside, I have really been craving fresh air lately.
    I honored my body by getting a massage. It is the one thing I absolutely love doing for myself. I spent that quiet time being thankful for my life and letting go of the stress and pain that build up in my body.

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  6. today, I allowed myself rest. I had a very early morning (3am) working from home to meet a 9am deliverable deadline. At 10:30, I laid down and rested until nearly 2. There was work to be done but I rested. And then this evening, plans changed in such a way that I was going to have to choose between seeing my son for a very short amount of time in a very ready for bed state, or attending a small group that I am a part of. I'm choosing the small group tonight. It's not for lack of wanting to see my son, but recognizing that the investment in myself this evening will be the best use of my time and energy.

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  7. Tough today since I'm home sick with a cold, feeling achy and a little sorry for myself. But I am grateful that it's only a cold that will pass, that I have medicine to make me feel better, and that I am able to take care of myself. I recognize that so many others struggle with serious illness and many don't have access to the most basic medicine. With that in mind, I'm treating myself to hot chocolate and cinnamon toast like my mom made me when I was a kid.

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  8. When I'm on the road in Mexico, I tend to eat junk food rather than take time for a real meal. My investment in myself was to stick to water and yogurt until I lighted somewhere and then have a real meal. For dinner I found a charming coffee/crèpe café on the plaza of Huamantla, Tlaxcala. Not Mexican fare but very tasty.

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  9. tried to post yesterday, but my phone was acting up: I've been feeling incredibly drained by obligations and expectations the past few days, so last night I set all that aside, closed the computer, put down the phone, and set up my sewing and craft area (finally!) in my new apartment. worked on a sewing project for a friend, but also got excited that now that it's set up, I can start making things I love to make with the piles and piles of beautiful fabric just sitting in a bin by my desk. making beautiful things makes me feel rooted in my identity and my purpose. I was loving it.

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  10. It was a busy and very long day and night at work, and I was more than ready to make the journey home. As I was scrambling to get my things together, my mind already racing with thoughts of today, I stopped myself and just sat down. I sat, took deep breaths, and then just looked around my office, paying attention to the "things" that I have chosen to surround me in the place where I spend so much time. I smiled as I examined the many Scooby Doo items that have been given to me as gifts from students when they discover that I am a Scooby Doo fan. I watered the plan that clearly needed my attention. I enjoyed reading the cards and prints that I have displayed, as each one brought back a special memory or purpose. I just slowed down and enjoyed the space and the memories within it. As I was driving home, I realized how much more relaxed I was after taking that time.

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  11. Rough day... this post was perfectly timed. Thanks, universe! Today, in the midst of the rough stuff, I reached out in a place I didn't think I "could" or "should" and found, instead, that this is a place (and a person) who is willing and able to help sustain me in times that are less "good or bad" and more just... huh? Thank you.

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