I’ve been away for a couple of weeks, visiting family in the U.S. When I came back to Australia, I went on retreat for 8 days.
I want to share with you a few things I learned on this hiatus. These are insights that I might even categorise as spiritual practice.
Gifts From My Family
Spending time with my family is sometimes the toughest test of my life commitment to be kind and non-reactive. However, in the company of my family, when I reacted in a non-loving way, this is when I got to practice forgiving myself. Because I’m oh-so human.
Gifts From the Retreat
On the retreat, parts of which were in silence, I discovered that, generally speaking, I talk far more than is necessary. I saw clearly that when I’m quiet I can actually hear the machinations of my mind. When I’ve been extra aware, I’ve been able to insert a little wedge into the stream of thoughts and choose a new direction of thinking, or none at all. (Note: the latter skill is still more rare in me.)
Being in the beauty of the Hunter Valley retreat on the cusp of spring, and being quiet, I was able to pay acute attention to my surroundings. I live in a lovely, natural setting on Mitchells Island, but somehow I hadn’t been appreciating it for some time. Since I’ve been home, I’ve been in awe of the loveliness all around me. I’ve seen a bower bird furnishing his ‘love shack’ with blue objects. I noticed that our nectarine tree is just starting to flower. And, I’ve heard the ocean pounding at high tide, coinciding with the waxing moon.
Some part of me felt deeply into the gentle and slow pace of the retreat. I responded to this cadence heartily and healthily. I remembered that I’m the one who calls the tempo–not necessarily the needs of others or the tick-tick-tick of my clock or endless time-critical duties. Even though I’m semi-retired, I’ve been as busy as any of you who are workers and house managers. It’s time to honour my inner clock.
Now that I’m back, I feel refreshed and renewed, and enthusiastic about teaching. For your information, besides my normal classes, here are a few events that I’m presenting at this year:
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