Pages

Sunday, July 1, 2012

IN THIS FIRST FULL MOON OF SUMMER: TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES.

The sweet smell of midsummer roses.
After reading a recent article on how the unnecessary “busyness” of our society is making us sick, I decided to celebrate the midsummer full moon (July 3) by being strategically “un-busy.” And I’ll share with you one of my reflections (a time-honored guidance): remember to smell the roses.

One way or another, we aren’t going to see this (particular) midsummer again – ever. So, we need to appreciate it. Reveling in the sweet smell of July roses isn’t only for light-weights and vacationers, and it certainly doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It is the very makings of human life. And, if we’re too involved being busy to enjoy moments of quiet sanity, then we’re destined to be anxious and unhappy people.

If the stars (and planets and moons) are correctly interpreted, then we can expect a lot of difficulties later on this summer. We need to use these first few days of July for reflection on how we use our time. Space and quiet can give us the inspiration we need to better understand our lives and to center ourselves, not only as admirers of, but also as part of natural processes – like the seasons, the land, the plants, and wildlife. By taking time to be relaxed in nature (staying in the now), we prepare ourselves (in a much better way than yard work, exercising at the gym, or seeing more movies) for meaningful work and for facing unexpected adversity. Yes, of course, most of us have paid work, housework and other pressing obligations. But, nearly all of us have some time off during the week or weekend, and we owe it to ourselves and to our Earth to stop doing so many things that hardly matter and use our precious hours more wisely.

Also, what we do, day-by-day, is the true example that our children (and grandchildren) have. Teaching them to do more (and more and more) with the hope that they excel - by the standards of our current burdensome society - isn’t the best way to help our children in the long run. It will only guarantee that they are as anxious as most of the grownups around them. We need to teach our children priorities. And roses and some carefree time in July are what it’s really all about. Children need to play, and a part of summer play should be outdoors. Extreme heat levels aside - there are always a few hours of the morning when walks can be taken or a garden hose can be turned on for improvised water play. And, whenever possible, some of their activities ought to be carried out in an unstructured way with minimal adult interference.

In May, I attended my granddaughter’s graduation from preschool. At the ceremony, the school director said some wise words. She said that the most important thing that we can give our children is a solid religious background. Soccer games, music lesson, even academic enrichment classes all can be nice, if not bombarded at children like target ball games at the fairgrounds. All those things are secondary. It’s the core beliefs that we instill in our children will (or won't) sustain them through life’s conflicts. For this reason, its our first duty to be sure that our children have a sound basis for living.

Seeing that our children have some religious instruction isn’t good enough. They will tend to follow what they see at home and in their neighborhood. Don’t let that be a never-ending stream of make-work activities. We can't be good models for our children if our own lives have strayed away from enduring principals. Use the plentiful energy of the first days of July to smell the roses and choose time and heart over money, prestige, and material things.

Related posts
HERE’S TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH IN 2012 & BEYOND!
PHASES OF THE MOON - MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU MAY THINK.
THE NEW MOON CYCLE CAN HELP YOU MAKE LIFE CHANGES.
CHOOSE WHOLE-FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR AN ENJOYABLE AND EARTH-FRIENDLY SUMMER.
LEARN HOW TO BE HEALTHY THE "NATURAL WAY"
VISION BOARDS AND THE NEW MOON CYCLE.

 


No comments: