Celebration Flowers
Today there is a feel of Autumn in the air and as much as Fall is my favorite season I am still sad to think of the long days of summer going away.
Breath: the exhale is the start of the breath cycle as it is the start of life itself. It seems as if I have been doing lots of exhaling lately. I find myself exhaling huge amounts of breath, again, again, and yet again! I make myself pause in hopes that my own voice will wail out. I encourage and teach others to pause and hear their own authentic voice yet mine sometimes seems as if it is on vacation. Well, it is August after all! Vacation time for much of the world population.
Growth comes in spurts and it seems that it often comes after times of repeat angst and seasons of self doubt. BREATHE! I shout, “GROWTH comes after seasons of questioning!” Are you listening the voice says? Are you afraid to dream big? What happens if you dare to dream big and that big dream becomes the reality? What then? Breathe again!
Enlightenment! Through the ages mankind has searched for enlightenment. F.M. Alexander has shared a practice through which we can become more conscious beings. We can learn through awareness-mental, physical and emotional- what puts us in the wrong. Is it being scared that this big dream is coming true? We can stop, pause, breathe and then, alas, we can choose. There is always a choice! We can choose to have the courage to go for the dream or we can choose to retreat and give the dream up!
In truth, growth is dreaming and daring to own the dream, to have the courage to act on that dream.There are no easy answers to these questions which have been passed down and pondered upon through the ages. I do know for sure that the tool of taking the time to pause and breathe gives us the opportunity to hear our own voice. It opens that gate to growth and enlightenment one small crack at a time.
Author and Alexander Technique teacher Patty De Llosa expresses it beautifully in her book, The Practice of Presence.
These days I continue to remind myself to pause and let go of the need to succeed as the world defines success, to cherish a more authentic relation with myself and with others, and to return, with the help of Alexander’s insights, to the experience of my own presence.
Embracing the last days of summer we adventure forward into the crisp, cool days of Fall, daring and having the courage to own our dream-that REALLY BIG DREAM. LOOK OUT WORLD!