Take off your shoes.

 

Down to Earth

“Earth’s crammed with heaven…but only he who sees takes off his shoes.”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

          When we find someone who’s easy to be with, practical, and reasonable, we say they are “down to earth.” It means that they aren’t pretentious, they aren’t showy or demanding. Most of us like down to earth people. They aren’t trying to prove something or pretend to be something they aren’t.

          Another phrase we use to describe people is “salt of the earth.” It’s Biblical and means, they’re good people, the kind who would give you the shirt off their backs if you needed it.

          We might also describe someone as “earthy,” meaning they have their feet on the ground, they aren’t given to flights of fancy, nor do they have an overactive imagination. Earthy people are “real” to us, authentic and reliable. They live in the “real world.”

          All these good earthy ways of being in the world involve the body—being present in your body and not just walking around in your head, engrossed in your thoughts. When we keep body and mind together, we are better able to navigate the world successfully. It’s a Western tradition to live in our heads and treat our bodies as simply a vehicle for our brain. We typically become aware of our bodies when they give our brain a problem. They hurt, or they feel sick. In other words, when they demand attention that disturbs our train of thought.

          I’m speaking for myself, of course. I tend to dwell on the aches and pains that my body puts out, only because they keep me from doing the things I want to do with my brain. I wonder if you’re that way too.

          Today is New Year’s Eve. We are on the cusp of yet another year under the shadow of pandemic—year number 3. It’s time to pay attention to our bodies. I hear people say, “Well, it’s not all that bad to have Covid—it’s like a cold.” As if that is a reason to ignore the vaccinations and boosters. I guess they don’t mind being sick and prefer that to getting a shot. But here’s the truth: while covid is circulating, there will continue to be new variants because that’s how viruses operate. And some of those variants may be deadly. So, unless we really like to be sick, perhaps we should consider the greater good and get a booster shot.

          Be earthy. Pay as much attention to the health of your body as you do to your wardrobe, your cell phone, and your social media accounts. All of us need to get down-to-earth about Covid and do our best to eradicate it in the coming year—beginning tomorrow. Let's take off our shoes and enjoy the heaven of being alive together.

                                                  In the Spirit,

                                                  Jane