Slowing
Down
“Everything
that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back
into the slow circles of nature, is a help...”
May
Sarton
There
is a new quality to the air this morning—the light is different,
almost creamy, and there is a slight change of color at the tops of
trees. Even though there are still many days of heat to go, fall is
in the air. Mornings are quieter, the birds having finished with
their nesting for the year. It's a good time to put life into a lower
gear and spend a few precious moments out of the rat race.
One
channel of God's grace we sometimes overlook is the natural cycle of
nature. Not only the turning of the seasons, but the sounds. Just
five minutes spent listening to the song of cicadas, the waves of
cricket music, or wind rustling the leaves, brings the body/mind to rest. Our brainwaves en-train with those native rhythms and, without artificial manipulation, drop
into alpha/theta. We experience calm, our breathing deepens, our busy
minds relax.
Another
grace this time of year is the light—softer in the morning, golden
in the afternoon. Less bright even in the middle of the day. Taking
time to notice these small details puts us in a different head-space.
Just like the birds, who are resting from their labors, being aware
of nature's changing hues slows us down, gives our insides a break.
If you want to improve your quality of life, take ten minutes a day
to simply be with nature. Amble if you can't be still, but shift from
thinking to experiencing. Be with the sights and sounds, the smells.
This is better than the gym for longevity—I guarantee it.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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