Taking a break from croquet beside the Salmon River in New York State.
The day moves from mist to grey to rain and it is spring. We have had our sunny teasers which lift the spirits and make us think summer is just around the corner. But, here in Oregon we have, at least, another month of waiting.
As I practice pausing for one minute and consciously allow my breath to occupy the space, I can feel my shoulders releasing and my mood starting to lift from that grey place. Confession, I am also enjoying a 4PM cup of my favorite Earl Grey tea with caffeine.
As summer approaches, our thoughts turn to planning vacations and dreams of slowing the pace of busyness that creeps into our being. On my bookshelf I discovered two small journals and they brought smiles. One was a journal from my first European choir tour and the second was the journal from my second trip to Europe several years later. I stopped and resisted the urge to read them and go down memory lane. For now, I sit at the alter of my Grandmother’s desk. Beside me also is an old oil lamp which has been converted to electricity; it came from my aunt’s family and I am not sure even she knew from where it had come exactly. I have always liked it, even though it is not a great source of light. Looking down from the wall over my desk is a photo of my Grandmother with two friends. As indicated by their fashion, I think it was taken sometime in the very early 1900’s. They smile while holding a croquet mallet. The picture at the start of this blog entry is a photo I took of that photograph. I notice that on the left of the picture there is a reflection of me taking the photo; the image is faint and blue. Somehow it pleases me to be included along with my Grandmother and her friends; I will leave it just as it is.
I have been reading two books lately, both inspirational in different ways. In one, the author spoke about the necessity of setting up an altar for meditation. On this alter would be special items which bring a sense of peace and encourage one to pause. The other book addresses the subject of meditation and also has a section about coincidences and synchronicity. I sit here more or less in pause mode which I would describe as a form of meditation. I look around and realize in this moment that the altar I felt I had no room to create in surrounding me, right here now. It is no coincidence that I sit here at my Grandmother’s writing desk, writing and pausing in spring and thinking about summer plans. Spring, a time of new beginnings. What do you discover in your one minute pauses?