Last week I went up to the Buddhist Retreat Centre which is tucked away in the mist belt of Ixopo. It’s a home away from home for me, and the place I go to to recenter myself. Whilst driving there through the snaking roads I realised that this was the first time I had been out of Durban since before lockdown which is probably the longest I have been in one place since I was in school!
Having 3 days at the BRC to re-align with myself was a true gift and it reminded me of how important it is to inspire ourselves and come back to the present moment with gratitude.
As a species we place so much emphasis on providing for our future and yet when I look around, the people who have the most are so often unhappy. The most never seems to be enough! Our brains are wired to keep us safe and to worry for our future, and yet throughout time there have been wars, natural disasters and dramas. Despite this, the sun keeps coming up, babies are born and things constantly change. The only thing we know for sure is that we will all die one day.
This virus and the global panic that came with it, has taught me is that even with all of our efforts to be in control and safe, things could change in a split second so we might as well relish in the moments that we do have and be grateful for the joys that are right here, right now. This could be as simple as enjoying a cup of tea but is so very hard to do when we are in a state of fear, panic, hopelessness or sadness. I should know the corona-coaster hit me hard, but its lessons have been deep!
I’ve also been reminded that in order to change our point of view, sometimes we have to get up and move! So if you’re feeling stuck in the doldrums, move your desk, go somewhere you haven’t been to, go for a walk in a new direction or head to the Buddhist Retreat Centre and sit in the sun, look at the light through the leaves, take a deep breath of fresh air and think of all of the things you are grateful for!
For the photographers out there, this is vital to making interesting photographs and why I often take time to fill my creative cup and why you will always find me in the weirdest positions when I pick up a camera! Click on this link to see what I mean!
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