Summer of Zen...this is what my friend, Dani (my BFFFL lol), calls my summer. And now that its coming to a rapid close I suppose now is as good a time as any to think about why. When summer started, I took off immediately and went to see my sister and her family. I think that was one of the best things I could have done. For one reason or another, I had become stressed and worried about things that were out of my control. I needed to step out of my life and be somewhere else for awhile. Now that you all know my love of drives and road trips, you can imagine what a perfect start to summer I had cruising across the USA with my sister and the kids. I saw beautiful things and was able to just let go of all the worries I felt awaited me back at my house. Not to mention, the time with my sister was invaluable. She is a wealth of untapped knowledge. :)
It was during that time that I really felt peace settle over me. I was able to let go of the worry and anger and stress. I was able to see Heavenly Father's hand not only in the beautiful places he had created but in my life in a variety of ways. I loved it and I was sad to pull into the driveway. Although I was at a home I knew, I was at a different place for myself and wanted to work to stay there. So that was my goal this summer. To live up to the wall hanging in my bedroom that states:
Peace: It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
So I've tried all summer to be calm in my heart. In the midst of hard work, cancer, singleness, new wards, leaving old friends, my "kids" moving on and away, just feeling like something had to change...the list could go on...I've really tried to be calm. And let me tell you- it takes WORK! But its been worth it. I'm not perfect at it. I wish I was a Zen Master like cute South Africa man from the farmer's market on Saturdays, but I'm not. haha
As school starts and the stress and irritation levels go up simply by walking in the building, I crave the drive across the country feeling to be found in my classroom. I set the tone and I'm shooting for a Route 66 theme.
7 comments:
Hey! I'm glad you found our blog! I loved reading yours. You are amazing! I wish the best for you with everything! Just keep thinking Zen lol!
What a great post! Very thought procoking for me... I need to read that thought more and take deep breaths!
I have the most amazing quote that I'm supposed to share here...but I can't remember it! It has haunted me all day. So let me say for now...love the zen...and I'll share my thought as soon as I have it.
:)
Okay...so just like that it came to me and now that I read it, while it is one of my very favorites, I have no idea why it echoed in my mind as I read your post.
Maybe it's because for me - it's in "my solitude", my zen-ness, that I can best focus on what's important. I get my direction and my marching orders- my inspirations and revelations.
Then I get in "the world" and forget what my soul and I had agreed on.
So here's the quote,fwiw.
"It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."
-Emerson, of course
Is this too long? Should I have used my own space to discuss this?!
ahhhh- Emerson, of course.
use all my space you want. you can see there's FLOODS of comments i should be monitoring :)
I loved this post and the additional comment by Meg... I'm glad she used YOUR space, because I am not familiar with HER space :). I think it's easy for us (me) to feel overwhelmed with life... whether things are good or bad, there is always so much to do. I have been searching for some peace in my life... it's not likely that the troubles are going to go away, I just need to figure out how to have the peace inside of me. Thanks!
fwiw - i loved this post as i also love a good drive, mostly those alone and quiet, sometimes with a few good tunes for listening to my scripture tapes, but nonetheless, in my own zone ... ummm... herititary (sp?) ... wonder it that's the reason for MY family's Sunday road trips - goodness knows dad drove all week with a car full of people and didn't need to do it on Sunday, but did anyway... kinda have to wonder if in days of old folks went for a buggy ride for the same reasons eh? thanks for sharing...
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