Being vs Doing
For years before he died my Dad used to say to me; “what’s the big rush? What would it be like if you decided to just BE instead of DOING all the time?”. And honestly, for the first 10 years of hearing that, I’d laugh and say… “it’s fine for you to just BE, but I’m a busy person, with an important job and I can’t afford to just BE – like you. I have too much to DO”.
I was so sure of myself that I figured I didn’t need to really know what he was talking about. But he was wise and I finally figured that out. I think part of me always knew that. It just took me a long time of trial and error, of hurting myself by rushing all the time, to finally figure out that he actually knew what he was talking about- not just for him, but for me, and for us all.
Some folks meditate to get to a state of Being. Some just slow down. Some consciously stop their productive lives. Some sit and breathe deeply in a beautiful place to quiet their minds.
Doesn’t really matter HOW you learn to occasionally get to that state of BEING. What I think matters more is that you get there. That you LET IT BE….. come to think of it, that was always my Dad’s favorite Beatles song.
So next time you have the opportunity to take a moment from your busy DOING kind of a day… think about what it would be like to do nothing for a few minutes. What could be different for you? How might you see the world- your world- differently than you do now? How would you BE different… for you and those around you?
- My Dad- Saul Ader 1921- 2005
“Be still and know that I am God”
One of the highest compliments I have ever heard is someone saying of another “he is never in a rush”. We all think that we have to DO is so important that we ignore the little things that might interrupt and interfere with that plan. But often, the interruption is the real work, the really important thing that God wants our attention on.
I just read a book about taking these little breathing breaks throughout the day to help us refocus and just BE. Improves quality of life tremendously. Now if I could only put it into practice! That is always the really hard thing to do, the daily-ness is so hard to follow through on with everything-selfcare, diet, exercise. being. I have been thinking of Saul and showed Jill his book this week when she was with me from Texas for a few day…
Love the post and love the blog. Your pops was a wise man. This is getting shared! Keep up the good work..