Monday, February 21, 2011

Simple Abundance, Less is more.

It is almost play time for my little lady. But, she has books to tackle yet. We are on the final stretch before finals. Me too...I am trying to move heaven and earth for the grace and the strength to be able to finish all my requirements before my own finals.
My daughter and my own distance education for a certificate course is really quite a tall order. In between trying to grow this baby in my belly so that by the stork’s date...we are all ready to greet one another.
This day started with quite a bang. It somehow made me face some issues I wanted to sweep under the rug so to speak. But..had to face it.
Then...some Godly appointments...( calls and situations requiring my attentions not necessarily my desired plan.)
Another idea has spawned itself in my mind that has snatched away the precious ZZZ from my regular afternoon nap.
I reach for the HP notebook and here I am typing away another resolve.
I plan to put down my thoughts (again) on print as I review another jewel in my humble collection of books.
Sarah Ban Breathnach book, Simple Abundance.
I have had it for 21 years already and it has truly been a source of comfort and joy as I attain some sort of balance from my out of space and body hurtling experiences as I go through each day and try to sew body and soul together.
Her foreword explains why or how she wrote this book.
Let me muse on some of her evocative lines.
She starts with a quote from Margaret Young: “ Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do in order to have what you want.”
I remember a line, “ Do what you need to do, so you can do what you want to do later on.”
I think I heard this on Oprah’s movie clip of her own production of The Color of Purple.
Somehow, I have been repeating this to my daughter as I try to train her in delaying gratification. First things first. Then later, maybe later, the wants will come when the needs will be fully satisfied.
Example, I need to save first before spending. Contrary to popular plastic economy practice is buy now pay later.
Truly rich merchants especially the Chinese live by this until now. Paying cash is better than credit. In the long term, you pay more. Less savings. More stress.
Six practical , creative and spiritual principles are being encouraged to reflect and focus on as you try to rid your life of what is not working and focus on those that are:
GRATITUDE
SIMPLICITY
ORDER
HARMONY
BEAUTY
JOY
Some checks and balances to/ for a woman to live by her own lights and not by others definitions of what if’s and what should.
Author assures that as one journeys in a safari to discover one’s authenticity and creativity, one’s lifestyle of painful existence will be transformed into moment to moment states of grace and contentment.
BAD HAIR DAY
MOOD SWINGS
EXCRUCIATING DEADLINES
OVERDRAWN BANK ACCOUNTS
DIRTY FLOORS
GROCERY SHOPPING
EXHAUSTION
ILLNESS
NOTHING TO WEAR
UNEXPECTED COMPANY
FINAL 15 POUND
All will be sources of reflection, revelation and reconnection to one’s spirit, as one gets adept to spin straw into gold or instinctively know what to do with a few loaves and fishes, the author confidently guarantees.
21 years and counting as I achieve a zen like existence of truly being alive and sublime with this book’s assistance.
Cross my heart and fingers.

No comments:

Post a Comment