We have entered the season of “wintering”. The days are short. The solstice is coming. Nature offers its invitation to hibernate. As always, people everywhere are accelerating instead of slowing down (perhaps even more so this year). Do you feel it?

It’s ok if you’re not feeling productive or on purpose.

It’s ok if you're not striving or doing your best.

We have been conditioned to be ambitious & to achieve.

It isn’t feasible to be like this all the time. As a matter of fact, it’s exhausting.

These ‘doing’ qualities come in cycles. They exist, AND their opposites also exist. I am curious about trusting in and cultivating these cycles.

What if we practiced being instead of doing? What if we trusted and found beauty in not knowing where we’re headed sometimes? What if we allowed and even honored phases where we lay low and don’t feel compelled to produce, fix or perfect? What if rather than this being a sign that something is going wrong, this is part of the rich intelligence of life?

TODAY By Mary Oliver

Today I’m flying low and I’m
not saying a word.
I’m letting all the voodoos of ambition sleep.

The world goes on as it must,
the bees in the garden rumbling a little,
the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten.
And so forth.

But I'm taking the day off.
Quiet as a feather.
I hardly move though really I’m traveling
a terrific distance.

Stillness. One of the doors
into the temple.