Our conversations with Sarah llene continue with our third thought piece on deliberations...
We do not need to highlight again here that 2020 has been a rather tumultuous year. Throughout our personal conversations over the last several months we have on numerous occasions discussed feelings of being on a rollercoaster and how unsettling that has been at times. We are sure you have felt that too. We have covered many angles on what life looks like right now and what we always end on are words encouraging each other to take care of ourselves and our loved ones.
In the midst of a global pandemic to 'take care' means so much more. Think back to all the times you have said this to someone. For many of us, it may have simply been a polite way to end a conversation. Now it feels like it carries a lot more weight whether we have been directly impacted or not. We have all been carrying rather a lot lately and we know the desire to put a few things down will likely be echoed by you.
On top of that, though we understand the idea that we need to take care of ourselves at this time, for all sorts of different reasons, many of us may not really know how to properly take care of ourselves and knowing how to properly take care of yourself and others takes practice. Unfortunately time to practice is not something that has been afforded to us either. That being said, it is also widely thought that the best way to practice is through being challenged. Perhaps a tiny flicker of hope that amongst the chaos and uncertainty there may be something of value we can learn about ourselves and the people around us.
Part of our discussions have been around the idea of letting things wash over us. As in, removing some of the power from situations and comments that may have really affected us previously. Almost like we have become acutely aware of what is truly important and what is not. This period has really demanded that we all have an ability to be constantly flexible. An idea that seems exhausting even to read and, for most of us, unsustainable for any great length of time.
There is a great Bruce Lee quote that encourages us to become like water...
'You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.' Bruce Lee
To feel like we are taking care of ourselves there can be pressure to be on an 'even keel' and stablised in all parts of life to be able to cope. When the truth is that we can still be taking care of ourselves in small ways even though we may be experiencing great difficulties. We do not need to be in a constant state to weather the storm. Instead, if we be like water we open ourselves up to opportunities of adaptability, growth and change.
We hope that in the final months of this year you find some ways to take care of yourself and the people around you too. They don't have to be huge or grand gestures. To end with the words of Swami Sivananda...
'A mountain is composed of tiny grains of earth. The ocean is made up of tiny drops of water. Even so, life is but an endless series of little details, actions, speeches, and thoughts. And the consequences whether good or bad of even the least of them are far-reaching.' Swami Sivananda.
Written by Sarah Ilene
