Being mindful of going with the flow of life’s ups and downs:
I spent most of the Christmas period feeling absolute rubbish and pretty miserable with tonsillitis and a heavy cold and cough. Not surprisingly I’ve been feeling rather cooped up and am desperate to get out for some much needed fresh air.
As I am always drawn to water, my favourite soul stroll route takes me alongside a lovely zig-zagging brook not far from my home.
And so I set off today just as the sun was popping out to say hello.
I love that I can now walk right alongside the water. A few weeks ago I was delighted to see that the brook had been cleaned up, the rubbish cleared out of the brook’s bed, and the grass along the bank cut right down. WooHooo!
After all the rain we’ve been having recently, I found today’s brook fast flowing and babbling at its beautifully sounding best. I find its melodic song incredibly soothing to my soul as it gently washes away my woes and lifts my heart and my spirits.
As I walked alongside the water, I had a sudden realisation that I always walk upstream, against the flow of the water. This made me think about how I often find myself fighting against what’s happening in my life: the CFS in particular, but it can apply to anything really, and often does!
One of my favourite metaphors compares life’s ups and downs to the ocean: sometimes it’s calm and peaceful, and other times rough and choppy. And fighting against can be exhausting and a bit pointless really. If you relax and go with the flow, all will be well. In fact, one of my favourite mantras I have pinned up in my room is: May I ride the waves of my life.
It’s so easy to forget this and I catch myself fighting against what’s happening in my life, fighting the waves, and trying to swim against them. When instead it really is so much easier to accept what’s happening and to go with the flow, to surrender and let the waves take me to wherever I’m meant to be. And trusting that all will be well.
On today’s soul stroll, as I reached the bridge where I usually leave the brook and continue on my walk, I crossed the brook and walked back along the other side, this time following the direction of the flow of water.
My spirits lifted and my heart did a little happy dance as I acknowledged that I have the power to choose to ride the waves of my life.
So with this in mind, my happy for today is being mindful of going with the flow of life’s ups and downs.
Yes, there is something very deep-rooted about the musical qualities of a brook, something very much like a simple blackbirds song, it’s as if we can almost remember these being the first forms of music that we ever heard. I’m sure someone somewhere has written much on this very subject!
I like your metaphor, it’s always good to be able to view our lives in simple ways like this, very soothing. It reminded me of something I read somewhere recently ( a song by Kirtana comes to mind too), where our lives are compared to the very waves of the sea, and rather than us sitting upon the waves and being separate, we are actually tossed about as a part of the ocean itself.
At the risk of open flattery, I love your use of the phrase ‘soul stroll’ too. It makes me wish for some quiet ‘me’ time too. Thanks for the inspiration, I shall stroll at lunchtimes this week!
Woolly
Thank you lovely Woolly. I love the reminder that this was the first form of music ♥︎ I’m deeply drawn to the sea, and am always happy to come across an ocean or water metaphor, I like yours too.
Thank you for introducing me to the beautiful music and poignant lyrics of Kirtana.
While I’d love to claim the term soul stroll as my own, a lovely friend introduced me to it by an Aussie health guru (whom I”ve forgotten the name of now). But it’s such a beautiful way to describe a walking meditation. I hope you enjoy your lunchtime soul strolls
Hugs Xxx
While I can’t say that I took a soul stroll of my own this lunchtime, (it was more march than stroll), I went out by the River Tay and lo and behold, I was blessed to see a Kingfisher fly up into a bare willow tree! Quite amazing to see and made my day 🙂
How wonderful, what a treat – hope you get to enjoy more wondrous nature on your future lunchtime soul strolls or struts 🙂
Ah Helen, your beautiful heart’s journey speaks to me too. Thanks, as always, for your wonderful insights and open spirit. An inspiration on so many levels. So glad you managed time in nature and hope the days ahead are filled with pockets of warm sunlight, laughter and delight! Much love xx
I”m so happy to hear that lovely Cat ♥︎ Thank you so much for your kind words, I really do appreciate them. And I wish the very same to you my friend Xxx
This is so wonderfully uplifting, Helen! Thank you so much for sharing. I’m glad to hear that you’re feeling much better now. Please do take care of yourself. Hugs from SoCal! Love and light!
Thank you so much my lovely ♥︎ I really appreciate your kind words. Hope all is well with you my friend. Love, hugs and light to you dear Anne Xxx
This post really resonates with me at the moment Helen. Thank you for sharing & inspiration. XॐX
You’re welcome lovely Beth – I’m so glad it resonated with you too ♡ Must be something in the air Xxx
Beautifully written Helen, and so perfect and inspiring for me at the moment. Thank you xx
Thank you lovely Emily, and I’m so happy to hear that. Love to you Xxx ♡