Permission from Above

As I sat in my office, alternately typing this article and looking out the window at the snow accumulating in my garden, I took time to reflect upon my situation: “I am ‘snowed in’, I am relaxed, I have been given permission to stay in the house in my sweat pants and t-shirt.  And this permission was granted to me by forces beyond my control.  It was granted to me by whomever it is that brings us our weather.”

If the day had arrived without precipitation I would have found myself scurrying around in my car as I ran errands, met with friends or colleagues and generally busied myself with all sorts of activities outside of the house.  There would be no down time for reading or reflection.  Indeed, there would be no downtime at all until the end of the day arrived and I flopped, exhausted, into bed.

And yet, because I hold no power over the weather that is forcing me to remain indoors, it is totally permissible to do so.  I’m not a slug.  I am not being lazy.  I am snowed in due to circumstances beyond my control.

I am certainly not alone in this situation, for my friends and colleagues are all using this day to sit, read, perhaps write, maybe bake, cook a pot of chili and, like me, eschew street clothes and shoes for more comfortable attire.  And we feel not a shred of guilt.

Which begs the question; what is it in our psyches that dictates we need a “valid” excuse for taking a day for ourselves?  Why is it we feel guilty for feeding our souls in a most natural of ways? 

I suspect we have all been raised to be productive beings and the extent of our productivity is often measured by the amount of running around we do.  And yet, when I sit and meditate I am clearing mental the cobwebs to make room for creativity to fill in the gaps and bring about the emergence of resourceful and practical energy.

And we do so on days like these; days that force us to remain in our homes and take time to relax and reflect.  Without guilt.

Is that why some higher power has granted us snow and ice, wind and hail?

If so, I thank whoever that is for this gift.  And yet a better gift would be one we give ourselves – the gift of personal permission to relax, take a day off, retreat to into our inner worlds and minds and, of course, feel not a twinge of guilt for doing so.

 

C.J. Golden, motivational speaker and author of TAO OF THE DEFIANT WOMAN, the award winning TAO-GIRLS RULE!, and the recently published REFLECTIONS FROM BEYOND, travels the country inspiring all with her dynamic spirit and vision. Visit her at www.taogirl.com and www.reflectionsfrombeyond.com

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Submitted by Newtown, CT

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