When plans go awry the mindful way
Remembering the good things during hard times
The universe had other ideas for me despite my best laid plans for a month in Greece. I was there six days. Two of which were taken up travelling to and from the remote village we were staying in and the airport. But I swam in the sea every day I was there and my sun-starved soul felt the joy of warm rays on my skin. I have much to be grateful for.
We returned so soon as my sister-in-law is very ill. We’re unsure if she is going to be okay and at the moment her breathing and nourishment are being provided by machines. She’s in a catatonic state, has had a seizure, a pulmonary embolism and now has a lung infection, which is particularly serious as she has COPD. So my plans are irrelevant. I just hope our being at her side as often as we’re able to, sharing good energy and love with her, can help her come back from this. She’s in a hospital two and a half hours drive away so we can only go once a week but other family and friends are going once a week too. So somebody is with her every day.
But even though I know we need to be here, I couldn’t help feel weary this weekend when we were trapped indoors by the wind and the rain. Again. When I couldn’t get out for my morning run as the rain was torrential when I awoke. It has been like this for most of the year since we arrived here in late April. My sun-starved soul is feeling withered by the relentlessness of the wintry weather. The older I get, the more I seem to need warmth and light.
But then I reminded myself that a lack of sunshine is really not a problem. I’m warm indoors in a cosy home, I have plenty of food and love and books, and I live a very privileged life compared to many. I am healthy and strong. My husband is too. So I counted my blessings instead of feeling hard done by that my plans went awry. This is what a mindfulness practice has taught me to do. And it really does make a difference. What has living more mindfully taught you to do?
So now that I am no longer away until 21st October, the free writing hours are resuming on 17th October. It would be lovely to see you there for some dedicated time with our words. I will be writing my new novel, for the first time since August, and I am looking forward to getting back to that world and discovering what these characters have come to teach me.
With love,
Come write with me
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I am sorry to hear about your sister-in-law. Mindfulness helps at all times, even at the toughest, to stay in the now, to be aware, acknowledge, and accept emotions, and feel interconnected with the world. Your title carries the idea of power of gratitude.
I’m sorry to hear about your sister-in-law, Amanda and your shortened trip to Greece. We need the sunshine, the warmth, and we also need to be with our struggling family members. It’s both. I guess, for me, knowing that I often have to be with opposites like this helps. I’m mindful of holding them both, and that it’s not easy.