I’ve told you before that I have spent the last couple of years actively divesting my time, attention, energy, and money from things that no longer serve the preservation of my life, health and sanity.
This world spends a lot to try and distract you, and a lot of important things can be missed when you’re distracted. Important things that you won’t even realize you’ve neglected until they are no longer here.
Perhaps this is becoming more clearly to me since leaving social media and carving out a life which is off the beaten path and filled with activities which by their very nature, make me slow down; painting, sewing, gardening, etc.
Admittedly, slowing down has proven to be one of the hardest things I have ever done because we have been programmed since school to aspire to have it all, multi-task, and get to the top as fast as you can.
This is just a lie. In actuality it leaves us stressed, suffering from ADD and always feeling like we’re missing out (and if that doesn’t age you faster than anything, I don’t know what does).
Measure your accomplishments by the joy you bring to others. Feel wealthy by giving your time, talent, and humor. I myself rank laughter as the very best gift anyone can give me.
I believe inspirations come to us in whispers, just like our intuition and gut feelings, but you have to quiet the mind in order to hear them.
Earlier this month, I spend my vacation in Florida with a family friend who lost her husband. My gift to her was my time (because heaven knows I can’t cook) and laughter. When I left, she thanked me for the laughs because she hadn’t laughed in a very long time and she wondered if she’d ever laugh again.
It hit me while I was driving home that making someone laugh during the darkest times in their lives is my gift (and here I thought it was making skin beautiful).
You have a gift too – one that I’m sure you’re not leaning into. It’s probably something that comes so easily to you that you take for granted.
I say: recognize it, cultivate it and share it with those you love. Do it now with as much love as you can pour into it. You will never know how much it means to someone and it will make you feel good inside.
Instead of waiting for the holidays to share your gift, do it now instead of waiting to be prompted.