3. Being

I was talking to one of my best friends about simply being. He is one of the busiest people that I know and is used to always being on the run. Often, when he has free time, that too is rushed because he is so used to a hurried life. He called me and sounded somewhat frustrated and confused. He had nothing to do and was not sure how to handle that since he is so unaccustomed to it.
My advice for him was to simply be.
To be outside.
To be silent.
To be reflective.
To be thoughtful.
To be in the moment.
To be without a cell phone.
To be without distraction.
For two hours I recommended that he simply be alive and in touch with himself.
It was great to talk to him about how all of this felt and it helped me to remember how important this is in my life.
A wise friend once told me that it is necessary to say no to some invitations, to deny a few requests and to provide time for personal growth.
In our hurried society, it is difficult to make time for these moments. It goes against everything that we have been taught about productivity and efficiency. But do I dare ask who laid these rules and expectations out for us? Were these people well-meaning and concerned about our growth and development and understanding of life--or were they focused on product and profit, or other societal goals.
I believe in the importance and the power of the individual. Sadly, our society does not. This does not provide an excuse for people to ignore their need to understand themselves and the world better. It should motivate all people to fight for their rights and to believe in themselves and the power that they have to make a difference and to reach new insights.

My lesson lately has been the importance of being, of slowing down and of keeping all things in perspective. I feel much more in touch with myself and my emotions when I do these things and make them a priority rather than an option.
Try it.