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Photo: Judy Petrozzini-Declement |
Educators in NYC are preparing to return to work on Tuesday. The vibe I'm getting is that there is a distinct line between summer vacation and going back to work. I've felt this delineation in the past too. Although lately, my perspective has changed due to the words of my friend, Lynnette.
We were talking about self-care in the midst of the demands of being a caregiver. She told me to make time for myself by taking a walk or stepping away once in a while. I questioned the possibility of doing that because I didn't want to be away from the person I love in their time of need.
Lynnette told me there is no separation. It is all part of the same thing. It's all one. These divisions we create for ourselves are of our own making. In reality, our time, our movements, and our experiences are all part of the same picture.
This was the message I needed to hear. It seems so simple, but it packs a wallop. It is very freeing to make this shift in thinking - to see our lives as continuous rather than as a series of starts and stops. There is no beginning or end.
This perspective encourages us (or me anyway) to live in the moment and be grateful. What is the benefit of those thoughts that tell us we can do this or that when (fill in the blank) or counting down the days until (fill in the blank).
Stop and realize it's all part of the same thing. Everything is important and everything is connected.
