Quiet Days

~ the sheep of His pasture ~

NOD 

~ Walter de la Mare ~

Softly along the road of evening,

In a twilight dim with rose,

Wrinkled with age, and drenched with dew

Old Nod, the shepherd, goes

His drowsy flock stream on before him,

Their fleeces charged with gold,

To where the sun's last beam leans low

On Nod, the shepherd's fold

The hedge is quick and green with briar,

From their sand the cronies creep;

And all the birds that fly in heaven

Flock singing home to sleep.

His lambs outnumber a noon's roses,

Yet, when night's shadows fall,

His blind old sheep-dog, Slumber-soon,

Misses not one of all.

His are the quiet steeps of dreamland,

The waters of no-more-pain;

His ram's bell rings 'neath an arch of stars,

“Rest, rest, and rest again.” 

 ~ Abbie, resting ~

So much of what I hear these days is talk, loud talk, about how busy people are but what I don't hear, so much, is why they are so busy. It all boils down to choices, doesn't it? There's a lot of talk about getting rid of stuff, parring down, living simpler lives but not much talk about getting rid of busy. Frankly, I like my stuff and all of it has a history, it was here a long while before me and will be here a long while after me. When someone used to ask Aunt Bonnie why she didn't sell something, she'd say, "It's not eating or drinking a thing so I guess it can stay." My attitude perxactly!

Don't be in such a hurry to trash what is good. It's your home, your decision and if you want to get rid of your possessions, be happy with that choice but don't feel you have to downsize because of so-called societal pressure. Remember, no one gets a choice in your home but you and your family; well-meaning others only have choices in their homes. Ah, such freedom when one doesn't bow to whims and fancies of other folks!

On the other hand, getting rid of busy enlarges your life, your family, your time and can decrease stress, tension, anger, etc. If you choose to volunteer, do it willingly, with a cheerful heart and in a place that speaks to your heart. When I worked in the corporate arena, I would ink in "me" time in my calendar. When someone would ask for a meeting on a day and time already scheduled for "me", I would, truthfully say, "I'm sorry, I already have a commitment then." Fortunately the ole donkey's rear for whom I worked never caught on; had he caught on, he would have fired me for "not being a team player" and this said as he was leaving to do personal errands.

Life is busy and there are things we all have to do; make sure those other things are things you want to do. Leave space in your day for emergencies and spontaneous fun and, at day's end, take a deep breath and know you've lived your life well; not in a hurry or worry.

It's your life; don't let someone else try and live it, or run it, for you. 

Blessings ~ sheep ~ Abbie ~ rest ~ space ~ choices ~