Do you ever find yourself quiet and relaxed when suddenly you tell yourself "I can't sit here like this I have X,Y,Z to do!"
Do you ever come out of that reverie and think "OMG I haven't done a thing?"
Do you think if you aren't creating art every minute that you aren't really an artist? Or just because you didn't do laundry that day you're a bad mother/wife/person? Or just because you didn't return a phone call that minute you're a bad friend? I could go on with examples but I think you get it.
Do you ever just zone out....when suddenly you realize the phone is ringing? Or someone is knocking on the door? Or someone wants something from you? Or the cat has knocked something over? BUT all you want to do is just be in that moment for a while longer? Peaceful?
Sometimes those moments/days happen (and they do to many of us whether we admit it or not). Just let yourself drift - don't push yourself or berate yourself for wanting it and having it but feel guilty anyway. Remember to breathe in and out..............let yourself off the hook for just doing nothing for a little while. I realize there are situations where getting a moment like that is few and far between,,,,,,but that's an even better reason to give in to it when you have the opportunity. In fact it's essential!
Remind yourself that you needn't feel like you've failed as a person if you haven't filled up every second of every minute of every hour of the day doing doing doing!!!. It's OK to curl up and read a book for an hour or so (or all day if you can) It's OK to stop and watch a good movie. It's OK to sip a cuppa and watch the blue sky. It's OK to go and take a walk or visit a friend. It's OK to if you didn't create something that day or the next day.....or left something undone around the house or you let the machine get the phone....is someone keeping score?
Sometimes a bit of day dreaming can awaken the muse and sometimes, let's face it, we just need to close out the world.
It's somewhat like taking a vacation but you don't have to pack.
We can't always be ON...............sometimes a few peaceful and restful days or even moments can recharge us inside and out.
Give yourself over to moments of peace and tranquility. Don't let this fast paced society we live in make you feel like a slacker if you take a an hour, a day (or more) for a mental respite.
I have ruined a perfectly good day fretting all the while "I should have done this or that" or "I didn't even pick up a paint brush today" or "I have absolutely nothing to blog about, not so much as a photo" or "I should have returned that email" or "I only did one load of laundry" or "I should have gone to the post office" and so and so on.
SO WHAT!
I ask again, is someone keeping score?
I say free yourself from all that self imposed stress and don't burden your spirit with shoulda, coulda, woulda ALL the time. Jump off that to-do list treadmill and just be in the moment. You have not failed at anything to give yourself permission to do that now and then. And in those moments of quiet bliss you may harvest new thoughts and new ideas that prove to enhance all the days that follow.
Close your eyes and let the sun hit your face - remind yourself what a spectacular human being you are and how deserving you are of this moment.
XOXOXO
Let's breathe together shall we? In....out..........in.....out!
Ah, I feel better......how about you?
Love,
Lisa
Edited to add a post script: The bottom line is to make yourself aware of how important it is to STOP running through your life every once in awhile and just listen to the sound of your own breath. And know it's perfectly ok to do so.....without guilt or the ever present roster of things you SHOULD be doing instead.
It's just one gals opinion.