Be Still and Be Grateful

The Guest House

by Rumi

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

These words have really been resonating with me lately. I've always been the type of person that, when I get something in my head, a thought, an idea, a feeling, I can't seem to shake it. It's been both my strength and my weakness. I've been doing a lot of soul-searching lately (which explains the silence around here...) and I'm slowly beginning to learn that sometimes feelings are just that, feelings. They don't define me, they don't control me, they aren't even necessarily me. The downfall of being so stuck on a certain feeling, especially if it's negative, is that it makes it so hard to see through the fog and get a glimpse of what's next.

Instead of doing all the time - working, writing, creating, planning, communicating - maybe it's time to just sit back and be. I mean, when's the last time you did that? We're so busy planning, working, and let's face it - worrying about the future. What if we sat still, even if it's just for 15-30 minutes a day, and let our minds stop and focus on simply... listening. Maybe it's then that we'll all see what's next to come is going to be pretty fantastic.

Here's to another incredible weekend xo