In my part of the world, summer approaches – fast.
We are edging towards 30 degrees Celsius already. For me, in years gone by, as summer approached the year drew to an end, school finished and the vast expanse of the summer holidays lay before me – what bliss – 6 weeks off school. This experience seems to have been hard wired in to my expectations now, as each year the weather warms, November and then December approach and I thrill with the expectation of an easing of the busy-ness. And after 40 years away from school, I still haven’t learnt it doesn’t work like that any more. The busy-ness does not ease, there is no 6 week summer break ahead of me. Hmmm where did I go wrong methinks?

So now I dedicate my time to wondering about living a life of depth and richness in this busy modern world.

For me, it’s very busy right now as I experience change on all fronts: work, family, home and even country. These are deep and significant changes on an emotional, psychological and spiritual level, and disruptive and hard work on the physical plane. So in amongst all this, a good friend noted my stress and suddenly I got what the Buddha said:

“Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.”

For me, now, this means, that some circumstances are demanding and hard work, they challenge me to rise and be better, faster, smarter, stronger … and that’s inevitable. Choosing to ‘suffer’ these circumstances is optional. Yes, right now I am tired, prone to anxiety, unmoored from all that is usual and secure and routine, grieving relationships that are changing and welcoming shifts to new forms for those relationships, floating between here and there, no decisions in concrete, all in flux, gazing forlornly at an empty bank account, and a to do list that wraps around the globe … and that’s ok, that’s inevitable when experiencing life in human form.

That’s change, that’s experience, that’s life’s rich tapestry.

I find that the small things have extra value right now, enjoying a cup of tea with a friend, half an hour in front of a documentary on tv, a swim or a walk, a chat with my daughter. These things have extra piquancy right now. Circumstances are challenging me to rise and be better, faster, smarter, stronger … and more in touch and at peace and in the flow and choosing to experience rather than suffer.
And I like it.