The emotional toll of life can sometimes become a lot. There is not one of us who has not felt the push and pull the ebb and flow as waves move in and out. This can bring a stormy sea throwing our bodies and minds back and forth, loosing track of our “soul, essence and sense of self.”
As individuals we tend to want to take care of our own “stuff”, not wanting to burden others, or the other side “I’m strong, I will take care of myself.”
The truth as I am going through this investigation of my life learning and growing is this. We are tribal. We need community to dance and heal with. We also need to create our own sense of self; it is a balance between the two and an artful dance.
The invitation is to lean into our family, friends, our communities, as well as nature and our surroundings. Yes we need to do some of the work in solitude and alone, but not all.
Some of my time alone, has had me emersed in nature and her beauty . Spending time on a dock watching water bugs, I noticed how they move between the ripples, taking the path of least resistance, swimming easily until something catches their attention. When something does, they push right into the ripple towards the object of “affection” usually another water bug, when they meet, they either accept each other or not. If not, it is a quick encounter that ends in a moment.
If it is a successful encounter the dance together for a few more moments, pairing, separating, pairing again, sometimes for a long time and sometimes a short but yet beautiful encounter. (Check out quantum physics and properties of vibrational energy)
Now go back to our own lives it is very similar, we can choose the paths of least resistance for the greater good or we can choose to plow through everything that comes our way controlling and moving against the waves.
The constant thing about life is that there will always be changes, it is how we choose to move through it that matters. The “good” always outweighs the “bad”, the more we “fight” against the waves the more “suffering” we will experience.
My choice, I think I like the water bug approach, go within the ripples, check out what interests me, let go of that which does not serve me well and hold on and dance with what does serve me well. Become a friend of loss and grief and never allow it to drag me back, never moving too far ahead of myself where fear can creep in. Staying in the moment, being present.
So, the moral… with a giggle.
I am a water bug… have a great day, see you on the mat!
