"In a culture of more, it is hard to sell the concept of less." Rolf Gates
Yes! Emphatically! I agree it is hard to sell the concept of less in our culture. I find it even more difficult to buy this concept in my personal culture. I would much rather discuss the culture at large, thus refusing to look inside and determine how to live my life with less. This is especially true at this specific time in my life. You see I recently retired. So I am hearing from many people tell me that it is now time to lay back, enjoy the good life. After all, I have earned it. Right?
Here’s the thing: I want to agree that I have somehow earned this time in my life to just lay back and enjoy. However, I continue to reflect on the fact that each day I am living a gift. I am finally living with my soul’s purpose. HUH! I have spent a lot of energy to have my soul’s purpose revealed to me. Now, I find that my purpose is in conflict with the concept of living with and for ‘more’.
The Twelve Step Program gave me a progressive change in life style which emphasizes release of the issues which support my addiction. Fifteen years ago, those issues were quite obvious and I progressed through the 12 steps. While this process was painful and peaceful, there appeared to be a growing confidence in my sobriety. As this journey continues, the issues get deeper, more challenging, and more into the intimacy of my life style.
Yoga has continued to deepen this journey. When I read Rolf Gates’ words above, I want to yell at him and say “ya, but you don’t know how far I have come.” I want to whine and tell him to just leave me alone for a while…… Whew! Now that I am done with my little tantrum, I have to put on my big boy pants and realize that I have been praying for and meditating on my personal growth. So now, my lessons take me off of the mat and it’s time to live my soul’s purpose. It is time to clean out the obstacles. Painfully, this includes a lot of stuff that I cling to. Some where there is a fear that tightens my grip on this stuff. The problem is, the tighter the grip on my stuff, the tighter the grip on my soul. So when it is all said and done, the crying and whining serve only to tighten the grip on my soul and challenge my sobriety.
Hmmm? This sounds like a moment of decision. This sounds like I need to practice my wisdom to know the difference. If I stop whining long enough, I will be reassured by my previous experiences of the peace and serenity that results when I am willing to practice my program, ask for help, and enjoy the fruits of sobriety – peace.
