On The Wings of Dreams
The Spirit of the Earth
The art of patience
I’m thinking crocuses.
February may still belong to winter, but we do get those first few hints of spring to tempt and tease us. Every now and then the air will smell like it wants to be spring. Like spring may be hiding just around the corner, peaking out at us with a mischievous smile and a wink.
A look out the window brings a reality check. There’s snow on the ground. A cold wind is blowing. The earth is frozen and there’s nary a crocus in sight. Then the craving for spring rears its head! These thoughts brought me to this month’s theme:
Patience
I know there are a few naturally patient people, but most of us have to work really hard at it, especially in the 21st century, where immediate gratification rules the day. We are rewarded for speed and how many things we can accomplish at once. Multitasking has become a required skill.
Think back to a few hundred years ago where it might have taken two or three generations to build a single cathedral. You might work your whole life and never see the end result. Can you imagine having that kind of patience and persistence in modern day America? We are not interested in anything that doesn’t show results and rewards for our efforts – the sooner the better. I think we have lost something precious, being in such a hurry all the time.
If April, as T. S. Eliot once wrote, is the cruelest month, February could stand as the most tedious. Thankfully, it’s also the shortest! But right at its beginning we hit the smack middle of winter. We watch the groundhogs and their shadows to see just how much longer winter will last. How silly of us!
The reality is that there is plenty more winter to come before nature’s potential bursts into blossoms and butterflies. That potential requires our patience, unless we are to needlessly suffer the longing for what cannot be. Nature has her cycles for good reason.
How then, do we engender patience?
It may not be easy but it is a simple practice. It’s one that I touched on in my October essay on time. Look for the positive, the cheerful, and the satisfactory in what’s happening right now. Does longing for the warmth and bounty of spring bring happiness? Is the feeling of longing an enjoyable one? Well, perhaps once in awhile!
Yet, the ability to adapt to all manner of changing circumstances is what has held humanity in good stead for millennia, so I am not advocating a resigned acceptance to unfavorable conditions. Instead, it is more of a day-to-day appreciation and an understanding of the nature of ripening and unfolding. The best of things often require a lot of time and attention.
The “I want” feeling we all sometimes experience can serve us well, inspiring us to positive changes. But if we only operate under “I want” and neglect the grounding aspect of “I am”, we are never fulfilled and always impatient for the next thing. There’s no savoring of what we already have. There’s no thoughtfulness concerning our plans and goals. It’s a rush for more acquisition.
Our world demands a lot of us, and the competition can be fierce. The patient person, however, doesn’t always see things in terms of competition or of winning. Power often lies in the ability to value an experience over the gaining of one thing or another. Sound sophomoric? Perhaps. Yet no one can take what’s inside you away from you. Memories, loves, dream – they are all yours to keep with no competition whatsoever.
Simply slowing down also fosters patience. Literally. Physically slowing down the pace at which we move creates not only better quality results, but also lessens the stress and tension our bodies must endure. I think we can all agree that less stress and tension are good things! By slowing down, we may also discover a gracefulness we didn’t know we possessed. I highly recommend yoga and/or meditation practice as a way of teaching yourself to slow down while accomplishing much, much more.
And, if after all of that, you still long for spring more than you can stand, perhaps it’s time to break out the colored pencils and sketch a few flowers. Or maybe pick up a few essential oils and mix a pleasing blend that reminds you of spring mornings. There are lots of ways to use your imagination and creativity to sooth your spring-deprived self!
In the meantime, silly as I am, I’m hoping the groundhog won’t see his shadow and we’ll have an early spring. After all, what’s better than blossoms and butterflies? Well, maybe chocolate!
Peace,
Tee
I’d love to hear from you. Email me at teespirit@gmail.com