Years ago I was challenged to pause in front of a mirror I pass and say “I love you” while looking directly into my eyes. It sounded easy and I agreed. The challenge was for 21 days. Three weeks. I approached this exercise not knowing the challenge before me. At first I laughed at the idea, and when I gazed at myself, I couldn’t look me in the eyes. I grimaced out the “I love you” and moved on. There’s usually a mirror in every bathroom, bedroom, hallway, car and there they waited. It did become easier. I started feeling familiar with the exercise. In fact, it became a fun experience to watch my reactions. Looking back, I ponder whether the exercise was about affirming words of loving kindness or experiencing the difference between my egoic mind and my heart. I think both as this whole experience was powerful for me and I felt a difference after it was over.
I put my attention where I want to focus. I choose to practice kindness to myself first. I encourage you to consider venturing into the 21-day experience yourself. Consider it an experiment.
This poem was shared with me, and it holds the incredible wisdom of David Whyte. It also holds words representing our awareness, our alertness, and where we choose to focus.
Everything Is Waiting For You
David Whyte
Your great mistake is to act the drama
as if you were alone.
As if life were a progressive and cunning crime
with no witness to the tiny hidden
transgressions. To feel abandoned is to deny
the intimacy of your surroundings. Surely,
even you, at times, have felt the grand array;
the swelling presence, and the chorus, crowding
out your solo voice. You must note
the way the soap dish enables you,
or the window latch grants you freedom.
Alertness is the hidden discipline of familiarity.
The stairs are your mentor of things
to come, the doors have always been there
to frighten you and invite you,
and the tiny speaker in the phone
is your dream-ladder to divinity.
Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into the
conversation. The kettle is singing
even as it pours you a drink, the cooking pots
have left their arrogant aloofness and
seen the good in you at last. All the birds
and creatures of the world are unutterably
themselves. Everything is waiting for you.
Participants’ Reflections:
• My heart is filled with delight, joy, amazement and excitement for the birthday cards, wishes and gifts shared on my birthday. I am practicing the art of receiving joy. Thank you to each of you who have blessed my day today and every day. I love greeting everyone with a smile and saying good morning.
Seeing self in zoom everyday has been learning to love self and accepting people listening to me
• Appreciated reading
• Been doing this challenge for 40 years, one day at time. it has been working
• All our assumptions are being questioned. Close this birthday card to see message, not open it
• When let go of expectations, can’t be let down.
• Owls are wise
• Expectancy vs expectations.
• Beautiful example of expectancy when we were waiting for Shirley to open her eyes and see our array of birthday wishes
• Enjoyed making card searching for message was joyous
• Listened to Matt Kahn and his reflection on coronavirus turning it around. Matt Kahn has hundreds of videos, great perspective on coronavirus www.mattkahn.org