Landing / Word of the Year 2009
This year I discovered how to sit still. I began to glimpse what it means to, as they say in the Shambhala tradition, "hold your seat." Even though I flew about 60,000 miles, I found a way to sit still this year. The word that best sums up this year is "landing" because this year it clicked for me - the truth that a flight isn't complete without it. And we can't fly forever. We have to refuel from time to time.
"Accepting my true likes and dislikes brings me a kind of sadness. I will never visit a jazz club at midnight, hang out in artist's studios, jet off to Paris for the weekend, or pack up and go fly-fishing on a spring dawn. I won't be admired for my chic wardrobe or be appointed to a high government office." Gretchen Rubin in The Happiness Project
A difficult to lesson to learn, but I now get that I can't be everywhere all at once. And with that comes some sadness. And a willingness to really be where I am, when I'm there. To land and hold my seat.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Reader Comments (5)
I love Gretchen's quote because it is so true. Each of us has a part of our personality that longs to be who we are not. It never fades, but sooner or later we all land.
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Gretchen's quote is wise and your discovery is to be congratulated. Not too shabby of a nest in which to land you've created either.
This resonates with me. I didn't write a best09 post for word, but it would be along the lines of yours. Grounding. This year I dedicated myself to a yoga practice that taught me how to ground, and it has made me a better mother, a better person, by teaching me how to be still amid the chaos, how to be present in the presence of three little boys under 6. I'm also part of a contemplative writing practice led by the woman who directs the Shambala center in town here, and she has also helped me 'land' or ground, definitely how to still my mind so my thoughts can organize themselves.
I love your word of the year. Thanks for the inspiration of #best09.
Gwen,
As much as I travel for business, the best lessons I carry with me came from the earlier time in my life when I was learning to fly single engine airplanes. One of the funny ones is "the only time you have too much fuel is when you are on the ground, and on fire!" But the other one of practical significance, and which ties in with one of the points in your post is, "any landing you can walk away from is by definition a 'good' landing". And that is my typical reply to anyone who asks me "how was your fight?" (or when I arrive in Japan, "how was your fright?" sorry, couldn't resist) I simply smile and say, "the mere fact that I am standing here must mean it was a good flight, and for that I am ever thankful!" Kinda puts it all in perspective. If the object is to simply move you from point A to point B, then as long as it does that, it is 'good'. So, for me, up to this time, all fights have been 'good' flights.
May you and all who travel, be safe, be at peace, and have only good flights.
All the best,
Scott