Yesterday, for a short while, I felt a little glum for no particular reason.
The sun was shining, and the temps rose to nearly 70 degrees at Lake Texoma. Add to that, I live in view of a 90,000-acre lake in North Texas, and I have the luxury of a couple hundred yard commute to work in a separate office building in my backyard working with terrific, interesting, executive and professional smarties (clients) with lots of heart every single day. Moreover, I am married to my best friend and husband, and am greeted daily by kisses from Roger, our stocky, happy Yorkie. Add two sweet kitty cats to the mix, and well, it’s a wonderful life.
But I digress, back to my gloom.
I tried to just ‘go with it’ and let myself feel a bit more solemn — allow the feelings to course through my veins. Sometimes soaking up the sadness actually can be therapeutic. Yesterday it wasn’t, however. I just felt blah, and kind of bad, not in a good way.
So, after unloading the groceries, I stepped outside with Roger and just started walking across our property, soaking up the sun instead. Temperatures cooperated, so I didn’t even need a jacket on this February Saturday. The dock-like extension to our new deck (custom-built this winter by my handy husband), beckoned, and I sat, arms extended behind me, and just looked across our hibernating yard, quietened by winter. Birds lightly chirped. Roger folded one little arm beneath his stomach and lay down, gazing ahead.
Endorphins awakened; mood lifted; I felt so good.
I strode back to the house, gathered my things and walked to my office building. For the next three hours, I found solace in the smooth poetry of writing as I handled client projects, delivering in as timely of a way as I could, considering it was the weekend, and I was wiggling just a bit on a couple of deadlines I’d hoped to carry out earlier in the week.
(Sometimes), life is good, when you allow it to be.
What are you doing, today, to allow goodness in your life?
By Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter
Career Storyteller + Blogger
www.careertrend.net
Hi Jacqui,
Thank you for sharing the lovely picture of Roger and a snippet of one of your “blue” days.
I love how you allowed yourself to “lean in” or mindfully accept your emotions while at the same time reaching out for some known remedies such as hugging a loved one/pet and spending time outside soaking up some rays of sunshine and looking out at nature.
Often due to discomfort (or fear), we may try to deny our negative emotions by denying or avoiding them.
However, as you so beautifully illustrated, it is by mindfully recognizing your feelings that you were able to acknowledge them and let them go, and feel better…
In other words, as per Eckhart Tolle: “Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.”
Warmly,
Dorlee
Hello Dorlee,
Thank you for the affirming remarks regarding ‘leaning in’ – it was amazing the pull of the vitamin D, nature’s way of healing. “Known remedies” <- I like the way you articulated this.
And, you're right, discomfort/fear can spur denial; in-the-moment, I didn't 'see' that, initially – but am grateful for Roger beckoning me outside and for the warm landscape palette in which to reside and heal.
Finally, I adore your Eckhart Tolle quote. I have already re-read it several times – and surely will several more; I envision another blog post emanating from those words!
Warmly,
Jacqui
I enjoy your piece, Jacqui. So often I am so bogged down by my mind that I am not in a position to appreciate now. It should be so simple to throw the switch and turn on appreciation of this moment, this beauty, this breath. So simple. Yet it is often the most difficult thing in the world. Thanks for the reminder that while we have responsibilities and pressing demands, a moment to straighten the back, view beauty, take in several deep breaths … it is that easy to go from pressure to relief – at least most of the time!
Good morning, David,
I like how you expressed it, ” … so bogged down in my mind that I am not in a position to appreciate now.” YES. That is exactly how it can feel sometimes.
And we are in accord that the simplicity of ‘throwing the switch’ isn’t always so, but that there are ways to make the transition. The value of breathing in the beauty of life is immeasurable.
What a nice comment – thank you so much for ‘stopping by’ and for sharing your insights and support!
Please visit again, when you can!
Jacqui
Jacqui – I recently wrote a few LinkedIn blogs that you can read. The last one was on this topic. 🙂 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/self-talk-101-you-stronger-than-think-david-tumbarello
Thank you for sharing a link to your blogs, David! I will take a peek.
Regards,
Jacqui
Jacqui,
A mood captured, described, then released, to be replaced with another. Such is the cycle of breath, time – life. One moment flows into another.
If we don’t have blah, how do we know when we are content?
The ability to express emotion is an important aspect of being human. Recognizing and naming an emotion is often the first step in releasing it. Slowly, surely, subtlety you begin to feel better. You find yourself in a better place – like sitting on your deck, Roger by your side and nature all around, gently massaging away your woes.
Marianna,
Your comments always are so mellifluous and appreciated!
And how you tied in your valuable anti (Auntie) stress techniques is oh-so-timely in this conversation :: ” … the cycle of breath, time – life. One moment flows into another.”
Thank you for always extending the conversations with your professional insights and personal charisma; for anyone reading this who hasn’t visited your Auntie Stress Cafe, I encourage them to do so, now –> http://auntiestress.com/auntie-stress-cafe/.
Warmly,
Jacqui