Listening.......

Listening is an art.  Some days I feel it is a lost art.....I am just as much at fault.

We listen to people when they talk.....or do we? Are we looking to guess what they are going to say next or really, REALLY listen to them and their thoughts?  We can guess what is going on inside them but unless we listen do we learn. We can only help by being present when they speak.  We also need to be present when WE speak.  Our friends can't listen or help (if that is what you are asking for) if we can't open up and tell them what is happening.

Being in the moment is so crucial.  We spend time in the past and dream of the future.....and we lose one of the best things ever.....THE PRESENT.  What a gift it is!

Listening to people is not the only thing......we need to listen to ourselves.  Reflection is HUGE.  What are we looking to achieve?  What do I want right now?  I don't mean food (at least not yet) but in reality, where are you pointing your compass?

There is listening to our bodies too.  Our body is such a smart cookie......ok, smart entity.  She can tell us when we are hungry and thirsty; she will tell us when she wants to exercise (ignore the voices in your head!) and she will surely tell us when to rest!  Listen to your body and it will guide you to the foods you need for nutrition and health.  Ok, sometimes she will say she wants chips...but in moderation there is no harm.

There is listening to a greater being too.  I love listening to the choir at church; listening to the readings of the week and contemplating how it fits in to my life.  It might not fit today, but I know someday it will.....it always does.  God has such a way of bringing us what we need when we need it.  Listening makes it happen.  One of my favorite poems is Footprints in the Sand....

How wonderful is the thought that I am never left alone.  When I feel at my lowest, someone has picked me up to bring me through the storm to the other side!

I sat in reflection this morning.....wondering what my day would be like.  Would I want to pull out my baseball bat and start swinging or could I calmly take care of business.  Would I be patient today?  Would I help others get what they need in the moment?

Today I realized I am not listening to myself enough.  My body tells me she wants to move and I let the voices in my head over rule me.  That will stop today (reflecting on past post.....not being one of the Buts....).  I did listen to my body when I packed a lunch today.  There is some fresh fruit, avocado, oatmeal....good things that my body enjoys and uses well.  I have been taking laps around the office for movement and am drinking lots of water.  I actually heard my body say thank you!!

I will continue to listen to me, listen to my friends and really be in the present.

Maybe I will even sit down with one of my favorite movies, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and listen to Andy Williams serenade me.  There is so much world to see and I hope I get to do more of that....being in the present!

((hugs)) to all.....

Don't be one of the 'BUT' people

I am Catholic and it is Lent.  Yesterday during Mass, they had a priest in to encourage us to do one of the Missions the church was sponsoring.  It is looking at the sacraments and how they enrich and make our every day life what it is.

Every Catholic knows the sacraments are:

Baptism
Reconciliation/Penance
Communion
Confirmation
Marriage
Holy orders
Anointing of the sick

I have experienced some of these and I know how they affect my life....but Father Mark yesterday had everyone using his tag line.  It went something like:

'God sent me to tell you to come tonight, tomorrow night and Tuesday night; starts at 7 and will last about an hour (make it an hour and a half) and you will have fun'.  It was more the come for a little more than an hour (make it an hour and a half) that everyone was using on their way out.  He had his audience......we listened.  He talked about those who would say 'do you know how busy I am?'.......well God knows.  If you can't come....don't.  He talked about those who wanted to come BUT....what is your but?

Last night I was sitting with a friend who came home from the rehab center.  I was helping her get settled.  Her cat would not come out from hiding; I helped her sister put her bed to a height she could get in and out of while she is still in her boot; we did some laundry and after he sister left we just chatted.  It was so good to see her home.

Tonight, my but is my stomach is in knots.  There were lots of things going on at work and I just let it all get to me.  That is my fault.  I cannot fix everything but fell back into an old pattern of  trying to.  What did it get me?  An upset stomach and a headache.  Could I work past this and have gone tonight?  I am sure if I really was motivated I could have.  What was I afraid of?  Feeling silly about talking of our sacraments and the religion I am embracing and enjoy?

I don't always feel so smart.  I know my basics but become intimidated when others start going really deep.  It is not that I am not interested, I just have not gone deep into meaning and full practice.  It is something that I am working on.

This brought up all other feelings about when we say BUT.  BUT (in my mind) means there is some fear.  What am I trying to avoid?  Can I find a reason not to do something?  Why do I need to find a reason?  Who really cares if I am there or not?  I guess the answer is me.

I play the same game (more recently) with whether I should exercise or not.  I have been cleared....BUT my foot hurts.  Yea, so?  Put my big girl panties on and just do it.  What the hell is going to change if I ignore it?  NOTHING.  Do I want to see change?  YES.  I want to be more active; I want to get strong again; I want my old life back....well the active part of it.

Tomorrow is the last in the 3 day series.  I plan not to use BUT as my excuse.  I want to hear Father Mark engage me in whatever sacraments are left to talk about....and I will stop using BUT in my sentences.  Either I want to do it or not.  NO BUTS.  Make a choice and live with it....and if I regret the decision, change it next time.

We are exactly where we are supposed to be.  We are with the people we are supposed to be.  If we want change we have to invite it in and manifest it.  It won't happen because we dream of it.  We have to be a willing participant.

I will strive to no longer be one of the BUT people........care to join me?!