A couple of weeks ago, I had finally finished reading the book I had been reading at bedtime for the past several weeks, and decided that I wanted to read Bram Stoker's Dracula, which I've always wanted to read and which I had downloaded a couple of months ago for free. That Saturday night I snuggled up in bed with my Kindle and read a couple of chapters before my eyes were so heavy that I had to sleep. I had such troubled dreams that night about wolves and creepy, red-eyed historians that I had no choice but to blame the book. Apparently, I am far too much of a chicken to read Dracula right before bed, which is the only real time I have for leisure reading these days.
Unable to make a choice about what book I wanted to read instead, I decided to get caught up on some of my magazine subscriptions and started reading my October issue of Yoga Journal. Perhaps because I haven't been able to run very much lately and because its that time of year - less sunlight, more grading of midterms, the feeling of too many responsibilities and not enough time to handle them all - I have been feeling extra anxious and extra rushed. As I was I was reading, one article in particular really resonated with me. Maggie Lyon Varadhan's piece "Trickle Down" about connecting with the sacredness of every day life. The author suggested that by approaching the mundane as sacred we can open ourselves up to moments of peacefulness and grace.
This article spoke to me. I don't know about you, but I could certainly use more peace and grace. Lately I've been feeling so rushed and overwhelmed that I have been approaching too many things with haste and some with lack of care. My mental state and my home had both become messy as a result. What if I even approached grading midterms, putting away dishes, and flossing my teeth with the intention and appreciation of a sacred act? It might take more time to get through a stack of papers or to send an email, but it might be worth it. I might do a bit less but be able to give and to get a bit more.
So I'm trying to retrain myself to approach things on and off the mat differently and, if nothing else, to remember to take a pause and to breathe.
I can so relate. My life seems to swing like a pendulum, gradually getting more frenetic and out of control, until something happens (this time the hip injury) that makes me slow down, stop, reassess and then proceed. As hard as setbacks are to swallow, I like to believe they happen for a reason.
ReplyDeleteKeep me posted on how this process goes for you!
Those yogis know a thing or two! I love yoga but have never taken it to a meditative level. However, just taking time to be at peace, or to be engaged as needed, is sage advice. Good luck with your effort.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean! I went to get something out of my purse the other day and I couldn't for the life of me understand where all the junk in there came from. I used to be more organized! It makes me feel less productive! I think with the digital age, we are constantly switching tracks. We interrupt an email to check our phone, we interrupt lunch to take a call, send a text, check our email, twitter, blog or take a photo. We need to slow down and just LIVE in the moment sometimes!
ReplyDeleteI have been feeling this need, lately. I have signed up (mentally) for a Sunday morning meditation class close by. I could use some inner peace.
ReplyDeleteI need that article ASAP!!!! :) I sooooooo hear you. Part-time teaching, full-time momming, and half-marathon training (even at low weekly mileage) has just about done me in. I am finding little to no grace in my days lately.
ReplyDeleteToo funny about Dracula. That was one of the choices for my independent project last semester in Gothic Lit. I didn't have time and chose Mary Shelley's Mathilda. Ugh. Don't bother with that one... (or Frankenstein for that matter)
I'm smiling at the juxtaposition of reading _Dracula_ followed by _yoga journal_. I think I want to keep that article in mind, as I would like to feel calmer as I go about my day. Interestingly, the time when I usually feel calmest? When I'm writing. For me, it's such an absorbing task, even writing e-mails, that I usually feel more centered during and after the task.
ReplyDeleteGirl, I tell you, I think it was sent from above.
ReplyDeleteI hear that book contracts are like inner peace mirages. Meditating sounds like an excellent way to spend a Sunday morning. Definitely keep me posted on this.
ReplyDeleteIt took me 45 minutes to find and upload a file this afternoon because I kept getting interrupted by emails....
ReplyDeleteI definitely will keep you posted!
ReplyDeleteHa! I know, right? Writing does often absorb me, but I usually have to write a few sentences before I can get in a zone where I'm fully centered on the task.
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I've ever actually read Dracula. I should probably do that!
ReplyDeleteYah, I coudl defnitely take that article to heart. I have felt so overwhelmed and spread thin lately. I am not doing a good job of appreciating the little things and I am harder on myself than ever. I need to really work on living with intention and appreciating things in life... The trip was good for me in that regard, but I have been back for 2 days and have quickcly slide back into old habits.
ReplyDeleteI find that I keep these things in perspective better when I'm going to yoga class on a regular basis (read: I'm apparently thick-headed, and need regular reminders). ;)
ReplyDeleteI love vampire books, even before the Twilight madness started, have you read The Historian? Interesting take on dracula!
ReplyDeleteI read a ton of Anne Rice when I was in High School, but that is the real extent of my dealings with the vampire genre. I did read Twilight a couple of years ago on vacation, but I really thought the books were horrible - the writing's bad and I had real problems with the messages being sent to young women in them. If I can ever find time to read Dracula in the light of day, I might make it to other vampire books.
ReplyDeletePeace and grace. I just spent the past few weeks getting my dossier together for full professor, such an amazingly stressful experience, I really could have used that article!
ReplyDeleteOh, friend, I can only imagine how stressful that must be. Best wishes for a peaceful and easygoing p&t meeting.
ReplyDeleteLet me know how that goes.
ReplyDeleteBut also, have you given up permanently on Dracula?
Not permanently, but it might have to wait until this job market cycle has played out. I need things that reduce not increase my anxiety and feelings of being on edge. Damn good frenetic prose, though, so hopefully I can read it over the summer. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't know. I am definitely also feeling rushed, stressed, and pulled in a million directions. But I'm not sure the answer lies in devoting *more* attention to everything. Sometimes the mind needs to wander. I simply don't have that much energy or attention to devote to things in a given day. What I do think it's critically important to have a center to always come back to--faith, yoga, music, something.
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