Not being of a political mindset, I've found myself in uncharted territory this past year or so. I've definitely become aware and impassioned by global (and personal) events, and like so many others, I just want things to be right. I'd say, "right again," but I think it's been awhile since that's been a thing. It's just that I'm finally paying attention.
My husband and I have both developed a new neurological disorder. It's called, "Politically Inspired Tourette's (or "PITs")." This causes us to raise our voices and yell obscenities at our televisions in response to the continual stream of ridiculosity and chaos that flow through the infosphere. Symptoms vary, but frequently include elevated blood pressure, nausea, anxiety and depression with occasional righteous indignation. It can be an incurable disease; left untreated, it can cause eventual and irreversible insanity. But with proper treatment and a healthy respect, the symptoms can actually be used to the betterment of the patient. It's important to recognize your symptoms and their triggers. And as with any disease, rather than treating only the symptoms, it's important to learn the root cause and address it accordingly. You may never completely recover, but you'll have a better understanding of what's truly important to you. A lot of us actively seek spiritual peace. My mother began seeking her personal spirituality in earnest sometime during the 70s (sorry for dating you, Mom). There were always different books that encouraged readers to embrace and expand their inner selves, always with the prospect of becoming one with the universe. I personally believe we are all threads in the universal tapestry, each of us adding color, and each dependent on the resilience (perceived or otherwise) of our surrounding threads for growth and strength. One such book offered a simple solution for a happy life. It suggested that adhering to the acronym "H. E. A. L. T. H." might bring you the peace you've been seeking. As a child, I memorized the acronym's meaning word for word, never really understanding the value behind it. But as an adult, I get it. I get the importance of listening to what's inside of your heart, and the importance of understanding your personal truths. More importantly, understanding why they are your personal truths. So, submitted, for your approval, is the acronym, "H. E. A. L. T. H." May you find it as useful as I. H - Have Happiness. Do you know how it feels to be truly happy? To actually live in the moment, and not worry about what others may think? For me, actually having...no, actually owning happiness, isn't always an easy task. It's become easier with age because I realize that I don't have to impress anyone else. I now enjoy gardening and cooking (two of my favorite past-times) not just because I feel the need to impress or out-do my acquaintances. I love feeling the earth in between my fingers, and scrubbing the soil from beneath my fingernails. I love that the food I create is not only tasty, but it brings me great joy to know that what I've prepared will nourish someone I love. It humbles me and yet nurtures my soul when my music touches another's heart. Sharing my talents and gifts is just one of the many things that makes me happy. The list goes on, but the acronym is waiting, so... E - Endorse enthusiasm. It's easy, especially with social media, to go with the flow. To become indignant over a cause, and lash out without aforethought. And it seems there is a support group for every cause imaginable, just or not. Oh, the hateful and malicious things I've read or started to read but couldn't finish. The anonymity of social media affords us the right to say and do as we please (mostly) without consequence. Some people (a "bigly" amount) seem to thrive upon this ugliness. I've caught myself "sharing" posts to the public that I probably didn't need to share. But I've recently made a commitment to refrain from forwarding negativity. I'd rather share positivity and run the risk of encouraging another than most certainly add another chink (no matter how tiny) to their armor. Rather than adding fuel to an already blazing fire and proliferating further hate, I choose to keep my side of the street clean. It's not my job to police the Internet; rather, I see my position as one which provides a little bit of inspiration where I can and where it's needed. A LOT if you can stand it. So, inspire and encourage. Generate and endorse that enthusiasm. It's far better for your blood pressure than CNN. A - Affirm Appreciation. For some reason, I'm struggling with defining this term. Not because I don't understand or embrace the concept. It's another over-used and frequently misunderstood word. One definition from www.dictionary.com is as follows: noun gratitude; thankful recognition: "They showed their appreciation by giving him a gold watch." I dunno. Appreciating a gift is important, to be sure. But for me, it goes beyond what you receive. I've learned to appreciate the people in my life as the individuals they are. I still occasionally refer to my children as "The Kids," usually around the holidays when we're wondering if "The Kids" will be over for dinner. But they're each unique, and I not only appreciate but relish the human beings they've always been and continue to become. I appreciate my husband for all he does and has accomplished, and for the strength of his love. For the cloak of protection he provides to comfort me, I am eternally grateful. My Mama? She's loved me my whole life, even before I was a thought. She's always wanted me, enough so that she picked me out of all of the other babies she could have chosen. Just me. And she's loved me ever since, no matter how crappy I've treated her. And my friends? Well? That would take another post. These are all examples of the gratitude and appreciation I am honored to carry through my life. But there's more... What about the girl who made your latte` this morning? Did you appreciate that she probably had to be up before 5, expected to look her best, and then lean awkward and uncomfortably out of the window to give you that coffee with a smile? Your mailman, out doin' his thing no matter the weather. All of the people you interact with on a daily basis...surely you can let them know you appreciate them! The stranger walking by wearing the cutest outfit (Guys: read, "most bad-ass jersey")? There's no reason you shouldn't say something and make their day. It never hurts to give someone a reason to feel appreciated. And bonus? You'll feel better, too. L - Love Life. What brings you joy? Not just of the fleeting, "Yay! I got a Snickers!!" variety. But those things that you keep close to your heart, those activities and memories you can always turn to for a smile. Things like music, or nature. Or maybe you're a painter or gasp, a writer? Are you depriving yourself of these things? Because if you are, I'm here to tell you, you're depriving yourself of those things, and you need to stop doing that right this minute. Mama was right when she told me that the older you get, the faster time flies by, so grab a hold of the steering wheel and drive like the wind before your license is, er, revoked. Sometimes it's not that easy; sometimes you have to do a little detective work to find out what brings you joy. But I would encourage you to step away from the box and explore your world. There's no point in having your license revoked if you never took the chance to use it in the first place. So get going! T - Think Tranquility. I can't shut my mind down at the end of the day. At least not without assistance of some sort. Whether it's meditation, supplements, medication, or wine, I've always needed something. Needless to say, I'm still working on this one. I try to keep my mind clear, and not dwell on the day's events, but it's not always easy. I'm learning to glean the peaceful moments and shuck the unimportant. The difficult part for me is discerning which is which. I have an inner scale (think Lady of Justice) that prohibits me from throwing anything aside without over-thinking it to death. A decision in either way pains me, sometimes physically. And just when I think my ducks are in a row, my inner voice shows up. She has no inside voice either. She can't just mutter to herself quietly in the corner. Oh no. She's a one-woman marching band, tromping across my frontal lobe at 2:18 in the morning, redecorating the apartment, making shopping lists, deciding if a job should be in her future, replaying 32 miscellaneous songs (all at once), and did I mention all of the important conversations being practiced?. It's fairly exhausting. Clearly, I have (as I used to tell my employees) areas of opportunity for improvement. So, this is still a work in progress for me,. Any suggestions (PG only please) are welcome. And last but not least...the second "H"... H - Harvest Harmony. I believe that we are connected by energy. I imagine that energy to be much as the tide, it's ebbing and flowing encouraged (or discouraged) by the many energy fluctuations entwined within it. I try my best to add my positive energy to the mix, but that's not always the case. I have my pity parties, my bursts of anger, my guilt, fear, all of the negatives that are part of life. But I try not to push that out in the world (I said, "TRY...", there's a Yoda joke in there somewhere) because I know it's not helping anyone else. The Bible tells you that,"Whatever ye shall sew, so shall ye reap." There's also a little line you may have heard or read that talks about doing unto others. In some spiritual circles, your actions come back to you three-fold, whether good or bad, so you better be nice. Heck, even Santa's keeping track. So just stop slinging gunk out there. And stop being such a sponge for the gunk. That's what it means to harvest harmony: don't sew any nasty seeds, and harvest only the fruits that bring you nourishment. Weeds don't nourish. If you've made it this far, I commend you. I initially began this post yesterday, but the household gremlins decided I had better things to do and deleted my draft. It's all good though. Apparently what I had written was meant for my eyes only. So I'll consider it a lesson learned. Until next time, be good humans. Pay attention to not only the flaws, but the beauty and grace that make up life as well. Blessed be! Tammi-
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