PEBBLE
The ripple effects from our personal commitment to healing and balance extend out far and wide, in ways that we might never even fully know.
~Judy Moulton, shared by Kelsey in Fond du Lac, WI
BOULDER
When you remove yourself from the noise of the modern world, you discover not simply a world within, but a deeper awareness of the instincts we have lost. Attuning to these requires time and silence. Being present with all our senses allows us to imagine and inhabit the world differently. This intuition lies with all of us. Connecting with it allows us to tap into our wider instincts and our deeper, uninhibited selves.
~Tamsin Calidas, shared by Marilyn in Nebraska
PONDER
I’m gradually wrapping up my last batch of work stuff so I can sink into stillness and enjoy some quietude over the holidays. While it’s true that I’ve gotten much better about building in breaks that infuse more calm into my daily and weekly routines, I still find it helpful (necessary even) to occasionally unplug for longer periods.
It takes me longer than I wish it did to relax both my ambitious daily agenda and also my anxious swirly mind so I can get comfortable with a more relaxed pace and fewer demands around productivity. On the one hand, I’m extremely proud of the useful structures and ambitious pace that has fueled my ripply shenanigans for three decades. The downside, of course, is that my brain downshifts about as gracefully as my first car (1989 Honda Civic!), and my whole system tends to go into shock when the pace suddenly slows.
Eventually, though, my shoulders drop a little more quickly and a little more often, and I gradually transition away from constantly monitoring my productivity levels and instead simmer in the chill pond of HERE NOW. While I hibernate for a bit, I hope you’ll create opportunities for healing and balance that work for your schedule and needs. Even teensy “rest snacks” like a few deep breaths or a calm walk around the block can be restorative.
Peace,
Paul
P.S. And don’t fret, my ripply friends: I’ve stored up a cache of Ripples that will still flow out every Monday until I’m back in action.