A Morning Word

Posted on by kelley

The meaning of life is just to be alive.

It is so plain and so obvious and so simple, and yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves. -Alan Watts

Do you find yourself running about like a headless chicken trying to complete a to-do list or play that role of being everything to everyone? I’ve had plenty of moments like that, but I then sat down with myself and, in my T.I. voice, asked Is you happy? And the answer was usually no, girl. You are doing too much. Aaaand… for what? Goals and goal smashing are great, but I think fulfilling them with a healthy mind and body is way more worth the effort, you know, so you can actually enjoy the fruits of your labor without being hospitalized or dying first.

I’ve been doing A TON of autumn cleaning (thanks coronatime!); the simple tasks of going through old things, bagging some for donation and recycling and reorganizing what stays gives me great satisfaction. And, as a bonus, releasing items that no longer serve me frees up space in my home and my mind.

Why does my great satisfaction of cleaning and organizing matter? Because! I am consistently reminded that living is in the little things, not huge daily accomplishments or stressing over the chase of the next big thing. Enjoy the now for a few minutes. This is the perfect season to slow down and do some living.

❤︎

15 thoughts on “A Morning Word”

  3. Hmm, interesting: “enjoy the fruits of your labor without being hospitalized or dying first”
    I’ve never been so sure about this one.
    Back at Dunbar, we were told to go out, succeed (and as part of the Talented Tenth, we were not only expected to, but obliged to succeed, and ‘to be a credit to our race’), and the to give back to the community. For me, that has been what makes all of the rest of it worth putting up with: the be able to see the fruits of my labor as something worthy of telling my ancestors I did with the life they gave me. Enjoy? Not so sure, because enjoyment is a whole different ball of wax. But I think it is good that your generation is helping us (I’m gen X, btw) to see that it is also important to enjoy, as well as to work in order to give.
    Peace

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    1. Thanks for your feedback, Shira. I think being able to enjoy the rearing of your children, your career, your life, your backyard hammock in that home you paid an arm and a leg for – allll of it LOL is living! I believe the ancestors are proud when you try and when you fall and try again, as long as you do your best and not waste your life just to be recycled into the same existence until you do better.

      I appreciate you reading and your insightful comment.

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  4. This is affirming. I had a metaphysical experience that I won’t go into detail about, but basically, the message was to realize that your purpose is just to have an experience of life and to stop focusing on doing things in a set time.

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