Natural Reciprocity
Arriving at my destination, I turned off the car and sat a moment. Finding a space of peace within as I let my busy mind
Arriving at my destination, I turned off the car and sat a moment.
Finding a space of peace within as I let my busy mind and active body settle. I sat in silence and breathed away thoughts competing for my attention. Settled within myself, my eyes opened and began to notice what was in front of me.
A beautiful tree of red situated next to a smaller tree of yellow.
These beautiful Fall colors hadn’t been present last time I parked my car here. Or had they?
I didn’t know. How delightful these colors were before me. My whole being quieted in appreciation of the artistry dancing in the breeze before me.
In time, my eyes slowly wandered to the left and took a moment to enjoy the colors. A beautiful holly tree with glistening green leaves. So vibrantly alive. These sturdy green leaves reflected the light as if diamonds had taken a pause in flight to wink at me.
Woven into the holly leaves were splashes of red as the branches of the neighboring tree came to visit, rest, and share in the splendor. As if aware that this holly was perpetually green, a kindness of color was offered. Beautiful red leaves decorating this tree of green with the sparkling lights.
Such generosity.
Memories of decorated trees, delight, and magic awoke within me. I spent some moments enjoying the inner slideshow. Feeling the warmth of evergreen trees sparkling with white lights.
When the red would flutter away, leaving branches of brown unadorned. No longer offering color to the holly, roles would reverse as the receiver would become the giver.
I envisioned the vibrant holly tree cradling the naked branches, adorning them with leaves of green and diamond lights.
I wondered if the sun and wind conspired to dance this model of generous reciprocity for the benefit of distracted drivers who parked here. Inviting a breath,
a moment of stillness, a sense of peace, and perhaps, if one was lucky, a moment to wonder if such generous magic existed everywhere.
In the days following, I found generous weavings of red, orange, brown, and green everywhere I went.
When distracted by my mind’s meandering, fully decorated trees waved to capture my attention. Reminding me to slow down, breathe in wonder, and open my eyes to to the natural reciprocity on display for all to experience.
Peace be with you and with all. No exceptions.
Learn the one essential skill that allows you to face any challenge with confidence, sturdiness, and inner calm.
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Arriving at my destination, I turned off the car and sat a moment. Finding a space of peace within as I let my busy mind
I have a lot of conversations with women each week. Almost without fail, whether in therapy or classes, someone refers to herself or something she’s
There are times when looking at the world can become overwhelming. Everywhere you turn, you see suffering in your communities, instability in the larger culture,
Rocketing down the runway a few days ago, I suddenly remembered another flight home from the West Coast many years ago. I was sitting at my gate, listening to music and absorbed in a book that had been waiting far too long in my “to read” pile. I had several uninterrupted hours ahead of me and intended to enjoy every one of them.
Everything belongs. Everything has its place in the grand web of Life.
I was thinking about this recently as I wandered through the forest and stopped by a lake to chat with an old turtle hosting a flowing forest of algae upon his shell.
When I was young, the neighborhood kids and I would spend an entire day playing a game we called Seeking Treasure. We’d sprawl across the floor mapping out a plan to outwit the other team. We’d write and decorate clever clues on slips of paper.