Sunday, January 13, 2013

Dwelling in Possibility


It's January on the island.

The air fairly crackles with the crisp cold, and tree boughs dip low with an added ice coat.
Even the atmosphere over the water is so crystalline you can see the "heat" of the waters radiating off the crests of the waves.

Suffice it to say, it's winter here.
And January again, lol.

Which brings me to my next point: If it's January again, AND it's winter, how does one get oneself motivated for change?
After all, that is what we do in January again, isn't it?

Not everything is clear here, but one thing is certain: on this island, no matter what the weather, the season, the time or temp, people here seem to like to dwell in the possibility of things.
The percolation of transformation.
The gradual shift in the plate tectonics of life.

Latin origins of that word- possibility -  hint at ability.  The ability to be possible.
That's an interesting idea isn't it?
That you could actually be skillful in thinking something is possible, maybe even where it might not have been possible before?

To that end, I believe this year is the year to invite the possibility of change into being, rather than harbor a series of structured, and usually highly unattainable, resolutions for change that may never happen.

And, in thinking my way through what I personally may want to change, I'm focussing on 3 philosophical/scientific ideas:

#1. That anything you resist,  persists and usually grows stronger.

#2. That no two things or emotions can occupy the same space at the same time.
And
#3. That anything you allow to be exactly as it is, will at some point expend itself and disappear.

I've got my work cut out for me, don't I, lol?

How are these 3 principles going to help me dwell in possibility?

Well, let's take #1, for example.

Have you ever noticed that the longer you "run away" from a thing, an idea, a way of life, etc., the faster it comes after you and eventually engulfs you?

So, here's what I'm going to do: to that one issue that has been plaguing me, growing ever stronger the more I resist changing it... I'm going to stop running.
Stand tall.
Embrace it.
Hit it to win it, if you will.  :)

Second, the "no two things or emotions can occupy the same space at the same time" thing?
Well, let's just think about that for a moment.

Simply stated, THAT is a law of physics, for crikey's sake.
If you are seated on the couch, no one else can be seated exactly where you are.
If you are happy, you cannot be sad at the exact moment in time.
And, at this point in time, this very second in time, you cannot be anything but what you are.
So, life appears in a progression of moments of "now" - each one declaring "this is me, right now," or "this is what is happening at this moment in time."
The really kick-ass thing about that is: we are free to change at each moment in time, so anything is possible, no matter what happened in the moment before this.
Are we clear on this, lol?

Neela and little friend Rose' (like the wine) going with the flow
Last, how to "go with the flow":
Anything you allow to be exactly as it is, will eventually complete itself and disappear.
Oh I know, I know. It's a strrrretch to get this, let alone embrace it.
It's downright scary, if you think about it.
But also... freeing.

Haven't things that you've tried to get rid of, or pushed against, stuck around on some sort of level?
So here's what I'm going to do: be "the observer" for once. Just be aware, non-judging for once. Ride the wave to shore, as it were. Then get out and walk away freed.

Like my friend Terri says, to get over it you gotta go through it.

This might free me from years of old patterns, habits.
Resist an old pattern of life, gives it power over me.
Allow my life to be "in the moment", releases that power.
As my reiki instructors have said, "if you give it no importance, it will not be important."

Heady stuff, that.
Is it doable?
I'll let you know. :)

Have a "This Is My Moment" Good One. :)





PS
So for those knitters out there, who want to start the new year with a new philosophy of life, of knitting, of being, let me offer you this pattern:

                                                         The Go With The Flow Sock




















Here's the link: http://sockpixie.blogspot.com/2009/03/go-with-flow-socks-free-pattern.html and
the pdf file: http://www.practiple.com/sockpixie/rolfebirthdaysock.pdf

6 comments:

  1. Julie, I love your writing! I am so inspired by this I'm sharing on FB....Okay? Love you!

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  2. Share away, and thanks! (PS I made a very witty comment here, but Blogspot ate it right up lol)

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  3. Nice post; you really have a nice blog - are you a writer? Would love to see you blog more often.

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  4. Thanks, Carol, I am a freelance writer who has let time and tide get her away from her writing, lol. My to-do list is to do just that - blog and write more often, as well finish up a personal essay project to go to print, and continue plugging away at a fiction project.... I wish there were more hours in the day!

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  5. Brilliantly said. You should write everyday. xoxo

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  6. If you insist, lol. Seriously, lets set up reminders for each other!

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