Belgian Countryside
Braine L’Alleud
She made an appearance yesterday. She doesn’t really have a name; I call her the Country Girl. That is what happens sometimes when I try to be aware and in-the-moment; I notice when she appears. The Country Girl represents the part of me that feels inept in a world where everyone else seems to accomplish great feats and I do not. She is that voice within that dwells on lack rather than bounty, that is, lack of ability and self worth rather than pride of jobs well done. The day was sunny, another perfect Indian Summer day; I could not blame her return on gray rainy weather. The good news is I did not let her visit all day; I said hello and goodbye and made note of her visit.
Today I conjure up memory of her short stay and am choosing to question her raison d’etre. At the same time I am wanting to again banish her to some remote cave within. Yet, if I am honest there are reasons she surfaces and enjoys coming out to torment. What are they? I am pretty sure she has something to teach. The funny thing is that I am finding I kind of like her and my visual image of her is of a sweet little blonde girl. As I sit here thinking about her I am thinking I will let her negative influence and vibe go, yet keep her sweet persona around. Perhaps, now I am thinking, she has just come as a reminder that although I may be feeling insignificant in my journey, I have a choice to move on.
As I stop and breathe through life’s ups and downs, I continue to be in awe of this practice. So simple, yet profoundly effective. Again and again I am reminded, as I stop, that I do have a choice! Along with that fact comes the realization that I also have a responsibility to move myself forward. I confront the fact that I am no longer the sweet, little, blonde, country girl. She lives in the city now and she does have two pairs of red shoes (another story). Perhaps her new job is to remind me I can choose to acknowledge and become conscious of accomplished goals and look with anticipation at accomplishing more. Each of us has the opportunity to do this; each day brings the opportunity to move forward and achieve our goals, in work, in play, and in life.
Stop- Breathe- Move onward!