Life in Constant Motion

When I was younger, chasing around young kids, it seemed like my life was consumed with picking up, cleaning, and reorganizing from the messes created by young children.  As I am getting older (maturing), I find that I am still picking, up cleaning, and reorganizing, and there are only 3 of us in my home now.  I thought it would get easier.

As of late, I have come to the realization that life is in constant motion.  Every step we take, every act that we take, every item we touch, causes motion, and in turn causes work or the need for care.  For example, by getting up and out of bed in the morning causes us to have to make our bed, get dressed, which causes us to have to do laundry, which causes us to wash, fold and put away.  We walk down the hall to the kitchen, each step on the carpet adds oils or dirt to the carpet, in return eventually needing to be cleaned.  We arrive in the kitchen to find food for breakfast.  This entails pulling food from the cupboards and fridge, then dishes, which then entails putting away, and washing and cleaning.  So goes our entire day.  Everything we touch needs care.  Everything we bring into our lives will need attention or care.

So our day broken down into 24 hours, 1440 minutes, 86,400 seconds,is filled with motion that requires work and care.  It is a good thing we get to sleep some of these seconds away, and rest a bit throughout the day.

So, my point of this observation is, that the more we put into our day, the more work, care, and clean up we are causing in our life.  This is why, when life gets extra hectic and busy, everything around us seems to pile up, get messy, and cause stress.

We each have the same 86,400 seconds in each day.  Do you think every choice that we make in our day is important and significant as to the benefits, influence and requirement of care?

I have a tendency, maybe an addiction to filling my days so full, that I seem to always be running, tired and exhausted.  As hard as I try to keep things cleaned up and orderly, when I turn around there is another mess.  I often wonder how those who live in immaculate homes, and business spend their minutes in their life.  I am sure they are careful as to what they invite into their life, to limit consumption, to limit activities; I don't think they spend 24 hours a day cleaning, because they are highly successful people.  This too might be said of those who carry a healthy weight.  They probably are careful at what they consume and take into their bodies, which in turn requires less need for care.  Ah ha, the light bulb turns on!

My need to cram so much into my day not only causes more work, stress, and chaos, it is not healthy.  I know when my schedule is not so full, I enjoy peace.  I am happier. I enjoy time for reflection, appreciation, and spiritual renewal.

I am always telling my family less is more.  Quality verses quantity.  We are able to take care of and appreciate fewer things in life.  Coming from a family of 10 children, it presents challenges and a little chaos trying to keep up with all the weddings, baby showers, graduations, etc.  Family activities could consume much of each day.

Awareness of the precious seconds, minutes and hours of each day; applying principles of simplicity, careful choosing of what we want in our lives will invite peace, order, cleanliness and good health.

Hope we can all slow down and enjoy quality moments this week.

Marilyn