Countdown to Contentment ~ Day 21

Loving ourselves and life from where we are 

I’m counting down to contentment — to the starting date of my new sacred journey course,“Creating a Life of Contentment,"  which begins Sept. 15. For one entire year we will travel together as intimate companions: to relax, let go and rest into Love; to discover the bliss of our own life. You can learn all about it here. 

Just Sit

Do you recall the television commercial for Energizer batteries, the one with the bunny that just keeps going and going?

I think women are very much like that. We move through our days with pure momentum, force of will. So much to do! So many roles to play! Until, of course, our inner energizer bunny keels over, completely worn out.

Over the course of the years, I’ve had women say to me, “I don’t dare sit down because I'm afraid I won’t be able to get back up.” This is not good news, friends. If we truly believe we can’t stop, or can’t give ourselves permission to stop, we are in deep trouble when it comes to our health and the quality of our lives.

What if we gave ourselves permission to stop during the course of our days to simply sit? Just sit.

I often do this and my health is better because of it. I have favorite sitting times spaced throughout the day. And the reason I do this is because I’ve received delightful surprises when I sit at certain times.

I get to see—really see.

If we are moving very fast, always in forward motion like the Energizer bunny, we miss many things. Eyes focused straight ahead we overlook what’s dazzling. When we stop, sit, and look around, enchantment can be ours.

Case in point. If I sit down in the early morning between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., I am sure to witness a bald eagle “fly by.” Our house is situated on an actual "runway" for these magnificent creatures. They swoop over our house on the way to the shoreline to hunt for breakfast. Such a sight to behold!

And now because it is early Fall, great blue herons are on the path too. If I sit, I will see them. If I don’t, I miss out.

Right now we have what I'm sure is the largest butterfly bush on the planet in full bloom in our backyard. (It’s 8-feet tall, no exaggeration.) If I take breaks during the day—sit for even a few minutes—I get to watch hummingbird visitors.

These tiny iridescent creatures are absolutely delightful to witness. In the last few days I’ve learned that they preen themselves with those long beaks of theirs; they feed voraciously, then rest on slender lower branches in the shade; they are territorial and will chase another hummingbird away, even if there are plenty of blossoms to drink from.

True contentment can be found when we sit. Consider “sitting” one of your new contentment practices and be prepared for delight to take up residence in your heart; to fall back into awe with life again.

Remember, you don’t have to sit too long—but the longer you do, the more you will see.

And as I have typed these last lines, a small bald eagle has just flown by my window. No kidding. Now I call that, “holy synchronicity.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ 

I meant to do my work today, but a brown bird sang in the apple tree, and a butterfly flitted across the field, and all the leaves were calling me.

~Richard LeGallienne  


Register for the "Creating a Life of Contentment" course this weekend and receive a free book of your choice from me. I love giving gifts away! Get yours here.