I’ve been reading Brene Brown’s book, “Daring Greatly.” It is extraordinary. What she has researched and writes about is what my heart intuitively knows. Soooo much more to come, but I wanted to share this…
Living courageously is choosing to find, notice, cultivate, and savor the good RIGHT here in our everyday lives! It’s choosing to connect instead of close off or disconnect because you feel vulnerable and scared, brought on by ollllllld wiring in your brain that is NO LONGER useful!
Today is hardly an ideal day. We have one sick one – high fever. Brian is working. We both have to teach tonight — it’s the first night of a series we are part of facilitating at church. We have a two year old who wants mom’s attention. Crazy ads are appearing on my blog and website and facebook page. We have a ton of things to do for this upcoming week. Lunch needs to be made. You know how it is. You want to create, you have work to do, kids are crying and fighting, your hair isn’t done and you forgot to shave your legs (again!), let alone you haven’t exercised or meditated today.
This is EXACTLY when we need to PAUSE. To stop right in that moment you feel a tightness coming across your chest. And soften. Looooook fooooor the gooooooood. It’s right here. In your everyday life. This is where the magic is — right here in the messiness of our ordinary day. Put down your cell phone. Let the dinner-making be for a bit. Pull out a popsicle if you need to! And hold your little one – your toddler or teenager – and look at them! Look at them with regard and love.
Today, I am delighting in Little C’s rainboots and batgirl outfit and how she has a story going on at any given moment of the day. I’m holding our little five year old with a fever and…doing nothing extraordinary — just trying to be present and kind and love him. THAT is magic. THAT is courage in action.
Blessings,
As so often happens as your sacred site here, I am so touched that happy tears brighten my eyes! I hear you! I love this post, celebrating that the magic and beauty of life IS right here, right now, amidst the chaos and clutter.
This is the 2nd time I’ve heard of Brene Brown in as many days, so I am hearing the hint and going to get her book! And this reminds me of something Wayne Dyer mentions on his wonderful book-on-tape “101 Ways to Transform Your Life” that one of the most special ways that we honor people is to give them a moment of silence, so why not do that for ourselves?
How healing it is to just stop, breathe, let the tension melt away, and return our full awareness to the present, and to really see the multitude of ways we are blessed. Even when the wee ones are bolstering their immune system by having an inner battle and a subsequent fever (no fun for anyone).
God bless your beautiful shining heart Lisa. Thank you so much for the lovingkindness you share in the world. You do realize I cherish you and every one of your posts, right? 😉 Love and Hugs, your friend Gina
Oh Gina, I just smile each time I see Professions for PEACE and your name appear on comments! You make my heart smile. Thank you for your encouragement and soulful and REAL self! I love that by Wayne Dyer — yes. I know what you are talking about. Isn’t that funny about Brene Brown?! You can also see her TED video — it’s one of THE most popular/viewed TED videos of all time. AND IT’S ON VULNERABILITY!!! Isn’t that just amazing?! Folks WANT to live fully and feel alive — and it takes BEING VULNERABLE! Totally check it out and let me know what you think. I’ll be so curious to hear! Love to you, sweet Gina! Love, Lisa
I may have to borrow that book when you are done! I have been working at doing less and being more present as well. Today I took Ethan & Lili to Burger King for lunch and we got ice cream. The kids took forever to eat their cones and I was ready to go home and do the million things I had on my to-do list. But I resisted the impulse to hurry them up, and instead made myself present in the moment. The joy on Lili’s face as she sat in the car-shaped booth wearing her burger king crown and eating her ice cream is something I will not forget. We all had a great time and the kids were not even upset that it was too wet to play on the playground. You are right – we need to pause more! Sometimes the moments we find joy can be surprising.
Ohhhh that’s so lovely, rach. I have visual of you all today!!! Yes, I can drop it off at your house. I finished it. Do you want to join this new “spiritual book club” that a friend started from aidan’s school??? I don’t know anyone in it except the one friend. AND we are meeting at our house on Thurs eve… Jan 25 (?? whatever that Thurs is). At 7. We are reading this book!
Oh ~ this is a lovely post Lisa, courage in everyday life is a biggie! … So do hope your little one is feeling so much better today. I so agree and have to continually remind myself to take that pause you speak of … it is not always easy ~ but so worth the effort. Much Love your way always sweet friend! ~ Robyn
Ahhhh Robyn, I so think of you so often throughout my day. I didn’t end up sharing your poetry this past week at the workshop I facilitated — I went a different direction with the group. But Robyn, there will be moments in my work to share your journey — your poetry, your art, your story. I want to weave it into the next workshop in February. Your life – your brilliance, your heart, your COURAGE and bravery are inspiring. The everyday ways you have the courage to be vulnerable — you inspire me, breathe life into me and these dry bones! No, it is not always easy. Simple – yes, but not always easy. But then I remind myself “ok just this next breath, begin again.” Love to you, Lisa
Lisa, that sounds great! I’ll talk to you about it next week. I can bring some food.
I love all of these beautiful thoughts. You’re so right….staying in, or bringing ourselves back to the moment, is where life and joy is. Great post.
Thank you, Brenda. I know YOU get this! Many blessings of love and light and sweetness to you. Love, Lisa