"Have To's Vs Wan't To's"

Well, my bags are packed and ready for Paris!  Ahhhh the life. Traveling abroad is a wonderful and exciting perk that comes along with my profession. Let's face it though .... traveling for work isn't as glamorous as one would wish to think.  Loving my job to the degree that I do, makes the down sides of traveling well worth it.  Somedays however I feel the downsides to an extreame.  Missing my husband, my family, my own bed.  Hell, sometimes I even miss the 9-5 shift at Marriott BUT I know from experience that the grass always seems greener on the other side.  

Working in a line of service (teaching) I have quickly learned that if you've neglected to service yourself first, the quality of service you give others will be quickly diminished.   As most of you know, taking care of yourself SHOULD come first but more often than not, comes second.  Our minds become quickly re-railed.  Full of chaos, noise and speed, it's almost impossible to find the pause button let alone press it.

About a year ago, I decided to create my own "pause" button by bringing my meditation practices on the road.   I was desperate to find something that would keep my spirit at ease regardless of where Delta airlines flew me.  Bottom line, Im spending more time in airports than I am at home with my family. Since I can't possibly bring my home or family on the road with me ( can you even imagine those luggage fees? LOL) I needed to bring something similar in comfort. Something that would immediately take me to my "happy place" in any suituation, in any environment.  Meditating weekly when home, motivated me to take it elsewhere and enjoy it's benefits everyday. 

 DAILY meditation practices on the road soon began to give me a healthier outlook on work, family, friends and life as a whole. Don't get me wrong .... they call it a practice for a reason lol.  Somedays are MUCH harder to grasp than others, but afterwards I can definitely see a change in myself AND the world around me.  I once heard in an audiobook (I have listened to so many, I can't remember the exact one at the moment) but it mentioned how the outside world that we experience is really a reflection of whats going on within us.  I meditate on this theory often .... proves true every time I put it to the test. 

After a rejuvinating 2 weeks at home now,  I feel 90% ready for the next up coming month of work and travel.  I woke up this morning feeling some anxiety.  Something was missing.  I asked myself "Why am I not 100% ready?" Then is dawned on me.  This whole time I've been home, I haven't taken time to meditate.  I immediately scurried out of bed, eye mask still over eyes  (a beautiful sight to see I must admit lol) I was determined to relocate my damn 10% before stepping foot into another airport. 

I grabbed my incense, lit my lemon/cilantro candle and headed out to the sun room.  A place of such familiarity, today felt like a long lost friend. I opened the windows, sat in silence and listened closely as Mother Nature began to sing her song of morning bliss.  Every creature from land to sky seemed to have their 100%.  The birds race each other in the air because they want to.  The squirrels play on the rooftop because they want to. A baby frog just hopped onto my yoga mat .... because it wants to. Nature as a whole simply does what it wants to unless torn from it's natural environment.  Once taken away from "home" the animal now does what it is HAS to do and is never quite the same.   

"Hmmmmm" I thought to myself.  We as working humans go through this everyday. There are just certain "Have To" things we must do in order to do what we want!  In my case, I HAVE to pack my bags, I HAVE to wait in line at security, I HAVE to sit on a long flight, I HAVE to go through customs  ALL things I would prefer to simply skip over.  If I had it my way, there would be a "Insta Travel" button located next to the "pause" button on my keyboard of life.  

Soon after sitting in awe with the sounds of nature, a moment of enlightenment presented itself.  "What if my Have To's were replaced with Want To's ?" I WANT to pack my bags, I WANT to wait in line at security, I WANT to sit on a long flight, I WANT to go through customs.  As crazy as that all sounds, it brought me instant empowerment.   I have a choice and in that choice I have FULL control of my reality.   I can see things one way .... or the other. I can chose to find joy in ALL that I do no matter the demands.  It encourages me to find freedom within the responsibilities of life.  I look forward to using this method throughout my days ahead.

As I wrap up this post from the kitchen table, I catch sight of the sink.  A lovely stack of dirty dishes (slightly representing the leaning tower of Pisa) stares back at me. Now feeling 100% ready for the day, I am ready to WANT to find the joy in what normally would be a joyless "Have To". 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS?

1) Are there any "Have To's" in your work that you don't like?

2) What can you do to change your perspective to make them a "Want To?"

Sunset Therapy

Tonight a beautiful sunset graced our driveway.  I took a moment to break away from the demands of the evening to "sit with" such natural beauty.  Drawn close by familiarity, but separated by distance, I felt as if I was being reunited with a long lost friend.  Gazing deep into the rich hues of light, I felt a sense of inner warmth radiate from within.  I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and enjoyed my little moment of oneness with the sky.  There's nothing like letting your spirit wander free through the watercolors of Creator. 

“When the sun has set, no candle can replace it.”
― George R.R. Martin

REFLECTION QUESTIONS :

1) When was the last time you gazed at a sunset?

2) Where did you see it?

3) Who was with you?

3) How did it make you feel?

4) What was your favorite color and why?