I’ve been thinking a lot about how to stay centered and calm in these challenging times. After giving in to despair a few times over recent political and environmental events I’ve come to realize that I need to practice
Embracing Impermanence,
accepting what is, and finding beauty and grace in the world around me.
I cannot live well in a state of constant worry and judgment. And I realize that by giving in to worry and judgment I am contributing to the already polarized dysfunction of our culture, country, and the world. My being worried and upset contributes nothing good to the greater whole.
When you open yourself to the continually changing, impermanent, dynamic nature of your own being and of reality, you increase your capacity to love and care about other people and your capacity to not be afraid. You’re able to keep your eyes open, your heart open, and your mind open. And you notice when you get caught up in prejudice, bias, and aggression. You develop an enthusiasm for no longer watering those negative seeds, from now until the day you die. And, you begin to think of your life as offering endless opportunities to start to do things differently.
― Practicing Peace in Times of War
As I consider the broad sweep of history I see the impermanent nature of life. Things change all the time — people, places, ideas, values, climate, everything. And things will continue to change. Nothing lasts forever. No one lives forever. Not me, not you, maybe not even our country, maybe not our world. We simply do not know what will happen in the future.
Our understanding of the nature of reality is infinitesimal.
That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t care about our world, people, nature, justice, climate, politics. It just means that we need to consider being humble about what we think we know and don’t know. Perhaps we lessen our grip on believing that things HAVE TO go a certain way or we will all be doomed. I have preferences, beliefs, and desires. But in each moment I choose to lighten up a bit, to find wonder and awe amidst all the chaos, to seek beauty, try to be kind and loving, and do what I think is the next right thing in my life.
What else can a person do? We cannot spread light when our hearts are full of fear, anger, hate, and sadness. Embracing the present moment allows us to live lives filled with joy and gratitude instead of hate and fear.
We are like children building a sand castle. We embellish it with beautiful shells, bits of driftwood, and pieces of colored glass. The castle is ours, off limits to others. We’re willing to attack if others threaten to hurt it. Yet despite all our attachment, we know that the tide will inevitably come in and sweep the sand castle away. The trick is to enjoy it fully but without clinging, and when the time comes, let it dissolve back into the sea.
― When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
Wishing you a week filled with acceptance, presence, and joy.
May you walk in beauty.
Note: photos today from a walk at Carver Park Reserve yesterday.
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