 There was a time, not all that long ago, when moving my body with any level of ease was a chore.
Strained effort, discomfort, and frustration were my daily companions as I navigated chronic flare-ups of pain that rotated between my hips, legs, lower back, shoulders, and neck. My grandmother had suffered similar issues, as does my mother, so I had begun to resign myself to a future stymied with more of the same, chalking it up to the inevitability of my genetics with a shrug and a “Whatcha gonna do?” Well, PLENTY, it turns out. There was plenty to do, I just needed a good, solid dose of perspective. You know how sometimes words just stick with you? The following quote has been a mantra of mine for almost 20 years now; it has guided me through dozens of address changes across five states and an ocean, two broken engagements (third time was the charm!) numerous job layoffs, as well as a cornucopia of other curveballs life has thrown my way. “I beg you...to have #patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then...you will live your way into the answer.” -rainer maria rilke Over the years, with this as my guide, I have developed an unshakable faith in the importance of #patience. Everything happens at the right time. I truly believe in the idea that my path is unfolding exactly as it’s meant to for reasons that ultimately serve my highest good, even if circumstances seem confusing or frustrating or scary or sad, or like the exact opposite of what I WISH was happening. “...live the questions now.” While it’s not necessarily easy to come by, #patience is a lot like a muscle - you have to practice using it to strengthen it, AND just like a muscle, #patience will benefit you in a multitude of ways on any given day. Because the truth is that life happens any old way it wants to happen, and the only thing we get to consistently be in charge of is how we respond to it. Traffic comes to mind. So do strong-willed toddlers. Or being in a hurry at the grocery store while the little old lady in front of you asks many, many questions while painstakingly counting out her change (this one actually endears me - I adore the elderly - but it drives my husband bananas.) It could be anything, really. For many of us, perhaps it’s our self-care journey with which we have trouble being #patient. Making consistent changes can be HARD, and we want to be rewarded for trying, the sooner the better thankyouverymuch. Not only do we want to see results from our efforts, we want to be WOWED by them every time. #Patience-smatience, amirite? With that in mind, I gave my favorite quote a long look and did a little tweaking just for you, my favorite self-care superstar: “I invite you...to have #patience with every one of your goals, and try to love the self-care actions themselves, as if they were opportunities to practice strength, grace, and self-love. Don’t search for a finish line, which could not be given to you now, because we are never really finished with self-care and self-kindness while we are here on earth. And the point is, to live everything. Live the self-care, and all it represents, now. Perhaps then...you will live your way into your happiest, healthiest self.” Be #patient with yourself, my darling - you are doing such a good job!  So, how's your 2019 going?
We're right at that halfway point, which is always an interesting time to do a skosh of reflection. Think about the kind of vision you had in place for your year when 2019 began, then have a moment of #realtalk with yourself. Where are you at now? Were you able to knock out all your goals like you’d originally intended, or were there unexpected twists and turns in your best-laid plans? And more importantly than following a plan to the letter, were you able to grant yourself grace when you couldn't? |
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