Posted on Feb 15, 2012
This year has begun with challenges from a variety of sources creating an inner (and outer) sense of chaos for me. I’ve recently realized this has been complicated by an interruption in routine for me—those daily events we count on to give a sense of normalcy in our lives.
It is these very routines that can get us through crises of varying intensities—from the death of a loved one to minor irritations at work. When we follow through with what we know, what we can count on, it provides us with a retreat of sorts from those situations that are exhausting our resources at coping. We can be replenished in a way by doing those mundane tasks that have to get done regardless of what else is happening in our lives. We must get up in the morning, brush our teeth, get dressed, walk pets, prepare meals, consume food and beverages, perform required tasks at work or home, commute, chauffeur family members around, and the list goes on.
We get into a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly rhythm that gives shape and meaning to our lives. We know what is expected of us, what must be done at any given moment in the day. When this rhythm is interrupted, it can throw off our sense of equilibrium (that all is right with the world). Toss in an unexpected crisis or two, and the threat to our equilibrium, our sense of balance, is intensified. If the crisis itself affects our routine, the crisis may seem insurmountable. The coping skills we normally rely on may be insufficient to the task. Sleep may elude us. Nourishment depleted due to a diminished appetite. Hobbies and activities may not hold our attention long enough to distract us, even briefly. Our concentration may be broken. Even basic tasks can seem overwhelming. In the midst of this chaos, how do we manage?
The old adage, to keep putting one foot in front of the other, may be of use. Help might be found in tightening our focus to those tasks, those routines that are not interrupted. There are always things that have to be done. Such as getting out of bed, performing morning ablutions, getting dressed, literally putting one foot in front of the other, consuming food and beverages. If an injury has interrupted even these basic tasks, adjustments have to be made to get back into routine—reclaim a sense of normalcy. If the absence of a family member due to death or departure has impacted these routines, refocusing efforts and re-establishing basic routines will help to regain one’s sense of balance—albeit shaky at first.
And it could be worth our while to spend some time considering what all surfaces for us while in that state of chaos—of disequilibrium. Are there internalized messages that need review? Do we need to pay attention to some long submerged emotion or belief? Does our range of coping strategies need a tune up—finding healthier ones to replace harmful ones? Would it be better to engage rather than withdraw? Or spend time alone rather than be distracted by caring for others?
Of course, there are always risks to trying out new thoughts and behaviours. Some of our attempts may be met with disappointment, disapproval, or discomfort. It may take a few tries before we make the adjustment with the most benefits. But isn’t that what life is about? The Chinese symbol for crisis, after all, encompasses both danger and opportunity.
What routines do you rely on to get through tough times? What risks are you willing to take to move forward through chaos? You never know what lies just around the next corner.
Read More
Posted on Jan 15, 2012
A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.
~Catherine the Great
Wind is a mysterious element, isn’t it? Began mulling about that in the wee hours this morning as the wind howled up a storm, pummeling against the side of the house.
Some people find this sound comforting knowing they are snuggled safe and warm inside their cozy homes. Others find the sound haunting and disturbing, knowing the world will look different when they awake.
As I waited for the wind to abate a bit, it crossed my mind that wind takes on many diverse meanings—sometimes simultaneously—contributing to wind’s mysterious nature. Take the Chinook for example. The word Chinook means ‘snow eater’ and a true Chinook wind will do just that—eat up all the snow exposing bare ground—which is advantageous for foraging animals, but confusing to plant life which can die off if they start their spring re-growth prematurely and are taken off guard by the next severe snow storm.
People tend to appreciate Chinooks as they provide a break from the harshness of winter. The more Chinooks, the milder the winter. However, the stronger the Chinook, the more damage caused by the strong winds. You may not have to shovel your driveway as often; but you may have other troubles such as torn siding, broken windows from flying debris, and the like. So a wind that can bring comfort can also bring harm.
Same for the cold, blustery winds. They may bring frigid air and biting wind chill; but often they also bring moisture which the land needs for sustenance. As well, the cold temperatures keep the rhythm of life in check. Animals stay burrowed. Plants stay dormant. And the foraging animals know how to keep sustained even in extreme conditions. They have their sources.
Come summer, winds can waft in as refreshing breezes, or bluster through with sand and dirt chasing its heels, or interfere in our plans in one way or another. We can welcome wind, or curse in the direction from whence it came. At any rate, wind carries with it the message of change. The world will somehow be different once the winds settle down or blow on their way.
So what does the wind mean for you? Does it represent the rhythms of natural life? Or the mysterious presence of the Spiritual Other? Is it a reminder of the ever-changing nature of our lives? Much like we do with the wind, we can either fight against what is or work with what blows our way. The wind can remind us to pause in our day to reflect upon the rhythms of life, our spiritual needs, our response to change; or even to welcome and embrace refreshment, uplifting moments, the breath of life, or the comforts of hearth and home.
As we begin another New Year in the midst of winter, may the winds that blow offer comfort and solace, as well as remind us to boldly endure and to marvel at the mysteries of Life.
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.
~William Arthur Ward
Read More
Posted on Dec 15, 2011
Christmas is weird. What other time of year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of socks?
~ Crabby Road
Christmas is a time of mixed emotions for many people. The season can be associated with pain and suffering as well as joy and good cheer. Some years can be filled with more of one than another. Our hopes and expectations can be dashed with a single phone call or a misspoken word—or can be exceeded beyond measure by a gesture—grand or small.
Christmas can also be a time when feuds are set aside for at least a day to celebrate whatever it is this time of year means for people: family, good food, gift exchanges, caroling, Saint Nick to Santa Claus, the Nativity Story. The list is endless of what Christmas signifies to people as well as the symbols that surround that meaning.
Symbols both generate their own significance as well as contribute to a grander meaning. Symbols also change over time. What once held positive memories can later have negative associations. Traditions (those rituals we hold so dear because they hold special meaning) can also lose their import and be replaced by more current ones. When we get stuck in symbols or traditions that lose their meaning, the holidays can take on a drudgery that conflicts with the overall message of goodwill.
Symbols can also mean different things to different people that can be far different than the original. Take the Christmas tree for example. While its origins are difficult to pin down, the general idea is that it represents the tree of life and is associated with the Christ child. Most of us probably think of other things when we look at our beautifully decorated trees—such as fond memories of our childhoods, anticipating looks of delight as gifts are exchanged, remembering moments prompted by a glance upon a special ornament. It might be worth a moment of meditation to reflect upon the tree as a symbol of eternal life—hope for the hereafter—or even the continuity of life represented in the greenery as well as the family traditions passed down through the years.
Christmas can be a time of connection unparalleled by any other time of the year. There is something about the lights, the sparkle, the reminders of a break from the usual. For that really is the root of Christmas—a celebration of the winter solstice—the shortest/darkest day of the year is behind us and the days can only get longer and brighter. Christmas began as a religious alternative to the popular festivities to mark this significant time of year. Sometimes it seems we have come full circle. Christmas is once again a popular diversion for the masses. Any spiritual significance to the holiday must be consciously noted—even with all the nativity plays, services, and caroling. It just becomes empty tradition after a while. Not that there isn’t joy to be found there; but if these long held traditions and symbols are to have any personal meaning, it is worth a moment or two to actually think about what this time of year represents for you.
I have found it is also worth considering those empty traditions and symbols—or the ones that now have negative associations—to replace them with fresh ones. That action itself can signify the renewal inherent in the season. For spring is coming when once again light will flood the land. This may be a season of darkness—in more ways than one for some—but the Light is coming. The darkness will not last forever.
May your Christmas season be filled with hope and renewal as we transition from darkness into light.
Read More
