Today is the fall equinox. The days and nights are of equal length once again. But only for one 24 hour period until the Spring equinox. Isn’t that about how it feels in life sometimes; like we get about two days per year when everything feels balanced in our lives?
looking east as the sun sets in the west
It depends so much on what our personal definition of balance is, but we are more likely to feel balance over a longer period of time than one day. My life sometimes feels somewhat balanced over the period of a month, or even a year.
Truth is, sometimes life calls for more focus in some areas for a while, so we have to let other things slide. For instance if we are caring for someone who is ill, starting a new business, moving, etc.
The trick is to remember to care for ourselves. No matter how consumed we may be by the tasks at hand, we must make some quiet time for ourselves, some time to move our body, rest, laugh, eat good food, and spend time in the outdoors. If we go for long without at least these basic areas covered, we will crash and burn. And then we are of no help to anyone, including ourselves. We become less effective, often get sick and/or crabby.
One way I know of doing this is to let good enough be good enough. If you are always thinking you need to get more done, do it better, find time for all aspects of your life all the time, it’s a tough row to hoe. So what if your house is not as clean as you’d like for a while? What if you took a serious look at that to-do list and cut half of it – for now? Is it possible to ask for help?
When you finish something, let yourself just feel satisfied, at least for a little while. Breathe and relax for as long as you can before jumping to the next thing. Even if it’s just getting the dishes washed!
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Where is balance in your life right now? Can you be okay with it the way it is? Can you have compassion for yourself in the midst of whatever you are doing/feeling? What are you feeling?
photos by Carolyn Ringo
What is brewing in that rich darkness within? What is getting ready to emerge into the light? Sometimes just tuning into how you really feel at least every day can shift things dramatically.
So get outside, enjoy this amazing time of harvest and let yourself feel the gratitude.
Blue sky blessings,
Carolyn
