Let go of your worries
and be completely clear-hearted,
like the face of a mirror
that contains no images.
If you want a clear mirror,
behold yourself
and see the shameless truth,
which the mirror reflects.
If metal can be polished
to a mirror-like finish,
what polishing might the mirror
of the heart require?
Between the mirror and the heart
is this single difference:
the heart conceals secrets,
while the mirror does not. ~ Rumi, The Divani Shamsi Tabriz, XIII
Source: WikiCommons
A couple nights ago, I enjoyed a visit with my youngest g’daughter. At 4 1/2, she is at the stage where her constant refrain is, “Want to play with me?” I was tired and in pain but whether I wanted to or not, I didn’t dare disappoint her. So, I dutifully accepted my assigned role as “Toad,” (For the uninitiated “Toad” is a character from the land of Mario Brothers.) while she is “Toadette.” We laugh and play and before I know it, the pain has eased and I feel relaxed and contented. As I sat there, I thought back to those days long ago when I was young and carefree and the games that I loved to play. These are some of my all-time favorite games that I loved to play and things that I loved to do:
Source: Wiki Commons
“What you seek is seeking you.” Rumi
My granddaughter
Dai kept repeating, “This is my best birthday party ever.” Now, you have to understand that she is 4 years old and that there were exactly eleven people at this “party,” Still it was her “best birthday party ever.” The joy on her face said it all. A fun time was had by all and for the guest of honor, well, she taught me a little lesson.
Before hand, I was anxious that due to my illness, my house wasn’t as clean as I’d like and that I didn’t have the energy to throw a proper party for a 4 year old. I was worried that everything wouldn’t be just right and the party would be a disaster. I wanted Dai to have a fun and memorable day. As usual, I over did it, worrying about insignificant details that mattered to no one but me. In the end, everything wasn’t just right (Is it ever?) and guess how many people noticed. NO ONE. All of my stressing and worrying succeeded only in increasing my pain level.
Dai cared only about the plastic Minnie mouse tablecloth, plastic birthday banner, balloons, the accompanying paper accessories, pinata, blowing out candles on her cake and of course presents. The rest, it simply did not matter–at all. I should follow her lead, and let go of all that does not matter. I’ll never again have the energy of a 4 year old, but I’d love to once again see beauty in the simple things in life again. What a gift that would be!
seeking querencia 