A much needed rest

August 25th, 2008

I just returned from a week’s vacation which took me and my family to Ithaca, Washington, DC and Virginia. First I’d like to congratulate my friends Dave and Sally for their beautiful wedding in Ithaca, NY. Please join me in sending them a blessing for a long and happy life together.

This was a week of pleasant surprises. I didn’t think that I’d enjoy my visits to Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon, VA, but I really did. As I sit here typing, I find myself yearning for some of the simplicity of those “olden days”.

I heard that us “modern folk” often make more decisions in one day than people 200 years ago would make in a whole year.

Certainly times were difficult back then. We didn’t have today’s electricity, medicine or machinery. Our lifestyles were geared towards survival. Yet, there is something so peaceful and inviting about candle-lit windows, minstrels (rather than TVs) in taverns, and my daughter running her stick and wheel down a car-less street.

I can’t help thinking that in all of our advancements, we’ve strayed far from the intent these advancements were ment to fulfill. Perhaps there is a greater freedom available to us now than the one our forefathers originally wanted for us?

On one of my retreats, my teacher Alice had me walk with the mantra “No where to go. Nothing to do”. This is a very good practice. It’s not about laziness or passivity. Rather, it’s about not being so anxious to “be”, “do” or “achieve” something. It puts the emphasis back on the quality of life instead of the quantity. I use it sometimes, when I’m overwhelmed, or when I am working on something and find myself getting anxious about what I want (or have) to do next.

Have a great day, and thanks for listening!

Much Love,
Joe