"Hello Starshine, the Earth Says 'Hello'!"
"Hello Starshine, the Earth Says 'Hello'!"
I love that line from the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it has such a pleasant vibration to it and always makes me smile. Smiling is something of great importance too, it's something I was having trouble doing over the last couple weeks. Now that I've worked through the problem and found the solution I'd like to share it in case someone is feeling the same way.
I've mentioned before how the transition back to Virginia from St. Croix took a little time and patience. It was cold for the initial weeks that we've been home and Rob has been working hard and long hours with the upcoming mowing season at hand. We went from being together all day everyday to spending a considerable amount of time apart. His support with the boys day to day is certainly missed.
Jack of All Trades
The next thing that I struggled with was the change of pace. Boy things in the states move fast! People are so busy and consumed with education and making a living that sometimes it leaves my head spinning just thinking about it. I've realized that my 'work' is literally 'God's work' and by that I mean that I am doing the actions that I feel that the spirit, God, the higher self and/or the Universe; whatever you refer to it as, is leading me to do. I realize that this often does not involve receiving a monthly paycheck and for that and other reasons seems a little unorthodox.
When I was younger I held normal jobs, quite a few as a matter of fact; I worked in a deli, as a nail technician, as a hostess, a waitress, a bartender, a cashier, and as a secretary's assistant. While I enjoyed most of these jobs I began to notice that ethically some of my job duties conflicted with my morals and eventually I made the decision to move on for that reason or for other reasons.
Eventually, I became a business owner and I thought it was exactly what I wanted; to work for myself, be my own boss, and have something of my own. And then came the same ol' moral dilemma, I felt conflicted between making the money and art of yoga. I realized that I like the art of teaching more than the financial planning and competitive strategy that comes with being a business owner, which is absolutely necessary to pay the rent! According to the yogic view on the teacher/student relationship is: A hungry student will find the teacher, the teacher doesn't advertise for the student!
Rematch: The Tortoise and the Hare
I have recently began to study Buddhism. I have always found it alluring, but never really took the time to delve deeper into the actual teachings. One lesson I shared with the boys (all of them!) was the story of the tortoise and the hare. We all have heard the story, they race, the hare naps, the turtle wins. The next part of the story involves a rematch. In this race the turtle assumes the hare will do the same and so he decides to take a little rest of his own. The hare, determined not to make the same mistake twice races straight to the finish line. When the turtle finally makes it across he finds a note from the hare that says, "Silly turtle, did you really think I'd just let you win again?"
The moral of the story with a Buddhist view is that there are 4 types of people:
I love that line from the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it has such a pleasant vibration to it and always makes me smile. Smiling is something of great importance too, it's something I was having trouble doing over the last couple weeks. Now that I've worked through the problem and found the solution I'd like to share it in case someone is feeling the same way.
I've mentioned before how the transition back to Virginia from St. Croix took a little time and patience. It was cold for the initial weeks that we've been home and Rob has been working hard and long hours with the upcoming mowing season at hand. We went from being together all day everyday to spending a considerable amount of time apart. His support with the boys day to day is certainly missed.
Jack of All Trades
The next thing that I struggled with was the change of pace. Boy things in the states move fast! People are so busy and consumed with education and making a living that sometimes it leaves my head spinning just thinking about it. I've realized that my 'work' is literally 'God's work' and by that I mean that I am doing the actions that I feel that the spirit, God, the higher self and/or the Universe; whatever you refer to it as, is leading me to do. I realize that this often does not involve receiving a monthly paycheck and for that and other reasons seems a little unorthodox.
When I was younger I held normal jobs, quite a few as a matter of fact; I worked in a deli, as a nail technician, as a hostess, a waitress, a bartender, a cashier, and as a secretary's assistant. While I enjoyed most of these jobs I began to notice that ethically some of my job duties conflicted with my morals and eventually I made the decision to move on for that reason or for other reasons.
Eventually, I became a business owner and I thought it was exactly what I wanted; to work for myself, be my own boss, and have something of my own. And then came the same ol' moral dilemma, I felt conflicted between making the money and art of yoga. I realized that I like the art of teaching more than the financial planning and competitive strategy that comes with being a business owner, which is absolutely necessary to pay the rent! According to the yogic view on the teacher/student relationship is: A hungry student will find the teacher, the teacher doesn't advertise for the student!
Rematch: The Tortoise and the Hare
I have recently began to study Buddhism. I have always found it alluring, but never really took the time to delve deeper into the actual teachings. One lesson I shared with the boys (all of them!) was the story of the tortoise and the hare. We all have heard the story, they race, the hare naps, the turtle wins. The next part of the story involves a rematch. In this race the turtle assumes the hare will do the same and so he decides to take a little rest of his own. The hare, determined not to make the same mistake twice races straight to the finish line. When the turtle finally makes it across he finds a note from the hare that says, "Silly turtle, did you really think I'd just let you win again?"
The moral of the story with a Buddhist view is that there are 4 types of people:
- People who are privileged or gifted who make the most of their abilities.
- People who are privileged or gifted who do not make the most of their abilities.
- People who are average, not privileged or gifted, who make the most of their abilities.
- People who are average, not privileged or gifted, who do not make the most of their abilities.
Which one are you?
Finding Balance
I find that I am not just one most days, I sometimes make the most out of what I have and sometimes I don't. I would like to think that over all I'm making the most of my abilities. When I look back I've accomplished a lot and grown a lot in my life.
So what I am realizing is that not only is life about balance, each day is about balance, really, each moment is about balance. Raising a family can at times feel like riding a roller coaster, one that is long and there is no option of getting off! The key thing is to work towards finding a balance within myself to the best of my ability. For me this is helped by eating well, exercise, and meditation. I'm still a work in progress, but I am still in the game.
I find that I am not just one most days, I sometimes make the most out of what I have and sometimes I don't. I would like to think that over all I'm making the most of my abilities. When I look back I've accomplished a lot and grown a lot in my life.
So what I am realizing is that not only is life about balance, each day is about balance, really, each moment is about balance. Raising a family can at times feel like riding a roller coaster, one that is long and there is no option of getting off! The key thing is to work towards finding a balance within myself to the best of my ability. For me this is helped by eating well, exercise, and meditation. I'm still a work in progress, but I am still in the game.
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