Today I am grateful for the simple things in my life. As with so many people, Covid-19 has turned my life a bit upside down here and there. Where once I used to resent technology, I now have an appreciation for the benefits of it when it comes to staying in touch with friends, family and clients at work. I always knew that it had its purpose, I just did not see myself ever actually relying upon it. Now, even when our short-sighted government had decided to “open up the economy,” I am utilizing technology at work. I am immunosuppressed, and so I am not able to really take the chance that I will be alright during a pandemic, even with the multitudes of precautions that I have in place. The fact of the matter is that people would be coming into my home and bringing with them whatever they don’t even know they are carrying in. When that is a spirit attachment, I can handle it. But a virus, my body cannot.
I know that this frustrates some people who are really attached to seeing me in person. I do feel for them. After all, I do miss seeing them in person as well. But I do have the ability to do long distance healing and I do it well, and we do have technology for phone sessions and for video sessions and such. So really, for me, this is a practice in patience. I do not have any delusions that our world will “go back to normal.” That is a thing of the past. We now have to develop a new normal. That is a constant exploration. And yes, I do look forward to when I can see people in person again. I value that.
In the meantime, I am taking advantage of the slower pace. I am spending more time on my deck in my gazebo and, as a matter of fact, that is where I am as I write this. I have a break between clients, and my fur baby needed to go outside, so I decided to let him spend some time in the yard instead of cooped up in the house all day, and to take advantage of the moment to enjoy our awesome (finally) weather.
The breeze is gently blowing, the fountain gurgles and bubbles away off in the corner, the fragrance from the flower beds and the potted deck plants fills the air. It is almost downright romantic in nature! But that is how I often feel when in nature. And yes, nature can be in the back yard. It does not always have to be out in the forest. But no matter where I experience nature, I feel a very deep heart connection with it. Nature has a complexity to it in how everything is interwoven together. But it also has a simple beauty and elegance to it. Listening to the birds sing is a treat for me. Even at 4 am! Watching them in the bird bath is a delight. Seeing them venture close enough to drink from the fountain just a few feet away is a gift. Seeing butterflies flit from flower to flower, and bees doing their job to keep our world a living place is an inspiration to me. It uplifts my spirit to know that, as hard as I work to keep things going for my clients and in my home etc, these beautiful little creatures work even harder at keeping our planet alive. And then there are the lessons in play. As my fur baby chases after neighborhood squirrels it reminds me that there is always time to play and enjoy the adventure of life. One would think that the squirrels would become afraid of him. But no. They always come back for more. They love to tease him and play “catch me if you can!” And he is always up for the challenge!
I enjoy playing my Indian flute out on the deck. When I do, the birds will gather. There may be one or two, but as I play the music, there ends up being closer to a hundred of them in the branches, listening and cocking their heads to one side and the other as I play. And then, when the concert is done, they fly off to continue foraging for food. I think the plants also enjoy the music. They seem to radiate in their auras and respond to every note.
These days it is definitely the simple things that bring me pleasure and help me to stay peaceful throughout the challenges that life is offering up to us at this time. And I am very aware that, after slowing down for a few months, there are many people who are expressing that they really prefer the slower pace when they go back to work. Many are opting to continue to work from home. Businesses are having to adapt to the new reality that perhaps they don’t need to rent expensive office spaces because the work is getting done whether or not the person doing it is at their office desk or at their kitchen table. This, to me, is a huge gift to humanity!