Think not lightly of good, saying “It will not come to me.” Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise one, gathering it little by little, fills oneself with good. – The Dhammapada
As you may know, I’ve taken the months of January and February off to re-charge after a tough 2021.
Time off! A holiday! What a delight! I’m going to walk every day with my dog! Read books that aren’t about therapy! Sit and smell the roses in the garden with a cup of tea! Visit friends! Cook casseroles! Instead, I’ve found myself project-managing our laundry renovation, repainting the bathroom and all the door trims, digging out shrubs, rebuilding my website and strategising around my social media presence, drinking way too much coffee, and then zoning out in front of Scandi noir on Netflix, bamboozled by my busy day.
This first month has not been at all what I intended. I was still very much caught up in the busy-trap – the idea that being busy is what makes me worthwhile. Sure, those things needed to get done – but not all in the first thirty days. I’ve managed to catch myself this week – ironically, just in time to write this article – with the wake-up call that I don’t need to fill in every moment in order to feel the rush of existence.
My situation reminds me of the painful tradition of New Year’s resolutions and society’s push to ‘ramp up for the new year’ and get busy, which is propaganda from an industrial-age agenda. The idea of change is at the heart of New Year’s resolutions, and for me, it is an invitation to reflect on the tension between self-improvement and self-acceptance. I also need to reflect on the people in my life who do know how to switch off and relax. Indeed, their lives haven’t fallen apart because they have a work-life balance that’s different from mine.
As the Dhammapada says – drop by drop is the water pot filled.
I often invite clients to self-examine and look at their patterns so they can grow and experience change. As January closes and February begins, I’m taking deep breaths and really feeling the need to take my own advice. I have all the tools. I know what makes me happy. I can have a different experience this month.
Time to go for a walk.
Photo by Jessica Knowlden on Unsplash
I chose this photo as it reminds me of summer nights with rain, rain, so much rain! The colours are hearty, and the drops of water on the glass are crisp and clean. I love the distortion as the water and light bounces in the street beyond. So much sparkle! Happy 2o22 everyone. Wishing you much joy and connection for the year ahead.
Reed’s Socials
