Is this the best use of our time?

Girls Like Us

Is this the best use of our time?

While we are coming and going inside our own lives, have we each taken on the simple act of mindfulness? I sure hope so, because the alternative is a grim adversary. And, for anyone out there who thinks your small works of courage and compassion don’t make a difference, I am reminded of a speech Robert Kennedy made some 43 years ago while addressing the University of Cape Town. It goes like this: “Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” Although this very thought provoking speech was made almost two generations ago, it most definitely rings just as true and maybe even more so today. There were so many similarities going on during that time; too many echoing our current situation, in fact. But notice he still used words like bend, change and total. What would it be like for us to take on the practice of bending to create change for a total transformation to occur? Is your glass half empty or half full? Sometimes this metaphor can represent the very way in which we see the world around us as well as how we live our lives. What does your “glass” look like? Is it a soothing colour with plenty of room for good “stuff” or is it old and cracked, not quite able to contain much of anything? How do we start to see things differently?

If we did choose to bend, a possibility would be created. Change can only happen when we make a self imposed commitment. We have to feel it deep inside. It’s that spot we don’t acknowledge too often; Kind of scary, but true. Because we do know that if we did pay attention to the strong pull that is our “Wise Woman”, we would have to do something about it. It’s so much easier going day to day in a comfortable funk. Here’s the thing, though….she doesn’t quit! She may take a break here or a hiatus there, but her bright light continues to shine subtly and strongly, no worries.

Girls like us are often living a “catch 22” lifestyle. You know….when the money appears, I can figure out what I want to be when I grow up and of course, I just need to decide what path to take and then I’ll be happy in my life. The eternally internal whirling ensues and we take the “safe” way out. After all, we would have to do a whole bunch of who knows what in order to come up with a viable plan we could feel comfortable with. Who wants to do that? But here’s the deal…that grim opponent I mention is probably bigger, uglier, and scarier in our imaginations than in reality. Let’s see if we can’t reduce the fear factor a bit and create a plan for wonder…You know, wondering how things will turn out, the wonder in our hearts, wonder-“full” ideas, and the wonder of it all?!

I hope you will take time to get more intimately acquainted with your Wise Woman. She possesses a wealth of wonder just waiting to be explored!

Deborah Ricci is a freelance columnist living in Maynard with her husband, Wil. She can be found visiting with her Wise Woman in her little shop, Teresina’s in Downtown Maynard at 41 Main St. Hours: Tues.-Sat. 11-6 978-897-3914