Vacation Spirit
Oct 06, 2024 2:00 am
Hi there,
I'm on vacation time! Time to kick back, break routine, relax responsibilities and be present. We are in a lovely cabin surrounded by forest in La Pine, Oregon.
The sound of the river, the wind in the trees and the cloud slipping across the blue sky shift me into a more relaxed rhythm. My daily routines flatten and spread like sandcastles in the rain. Maybe I will get out to walk today. Maybe not. No writing, no watercolor, no planning. That is the best way to vacation --yield to the whim of the moment.
Yesterday, George and I drove to Bend, Oregon for supplies and to visit our favorite thrift shops. Each one providing a forest of items and treasures where we hunt for the unexpected. Taking our time is essential or we might miss a gift -- an old Texas Instrument calculator which runs on the sun, or two high quality frying pans, one of thick stainless steel, the other of cast iron and enamel.
In ordinary time, everything I do feels rushed. I tick off items on a check list of 12 -15 items. At Costco, we do Kamakazi shopping, gathering everything we need and checking out in less than 30 minutes. We rush from one task to the next, flopping exhausted into bed each night only to wake up and do the same thing the next day.
Some people take this hectic pace with them on their vacation, crowding the time with places to see and things to do, often returning after 2 weeks more exhausted than when they started. It is a rhythm we are used to. Downtime can even feel scary.
I urge you to face this fear of spirit time, or you may wear out your batteries too quickly. You body is made to run, not on a computer or in your head but on a beach or through the woods. Imbibing nature is spiritual work.
That is why Sufi practice is so important. Your body learns a more natural rhythm. Time slows down so that you can see the world with amazement, gratitude and joy.
Bringing this spiritual time to my vacation is easy here--taking walks in the pine trees, making meals, floating down the river, or watching the birds.
The next step is to take spiritual time into all my time.
The more we practice, the easier it becomes.
See you in my living room for Sufi Class this Sunday, October 6, 8:00 am PDT.
The Zoom LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88050735178?pwd=zkrVoc4Mtg0pSXtAAWmoCrHWQb2qb1.1
The next two Tuesday classes will be taught by Paloma at her link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89999494833?pwd=V2pOS28yYUdXM3hkaW1rVWIvSjBUdz09
Don’t forget to use the password SUFI all in caps if you are asked for the password.
Be brilliant,
Dr. Michelle
Life Transformation Coach
Empowering Women to Reinvent Their Life After Loss
Secrets of Life and Death
