One of the things I have learned from my cat Sophie is the way she chooses to just 'be.' Cats have a reputation for napping all day long, curled up in a tight ball of fur, often with their paws over their nose or face as if to block out light and distractions from their kitty sleep.
I love to watch Sophie, after she's been curled up for a while, when she takes a moment to stretch, letting out tension and kinks, and repositions herself for another session of just 'being.'
Of course, I've never seen Sophie question whether or not she should nap, thinking, oh, I really should just go chase a mouse or play with that toy that has that thing on the end I like to chew or chase that thing that runs across the floor, or better yet, check out the latest squirrel I noticed in the back yard the other day.
No, when Sophie wants to nap, she just does.
She chooses to rest her body to prepare for the next phase in her day or night, whatever that may entail.
I often comment to my husband that the cat's life seems to entail such bliss.
Now, of course, when Sophie is napping, it is only on occasion that she deeply sleeps, and even when she does that, it doesn't take much to wake her. When she's in the curled up position, resting, her ears are always on the alert, ready to pick up the slightest sound, which may clue her into to something she just can't miss.
Sometimes, she'll jump immediately from her place of pause to investigate where that noise came from: was it a squirrel making a scratching noise in the wall? Was it a stray cat in the neighborhood stopping by to say 'Meow'? Or was it someone in the kitchen just waiting to hand out a tasty morsel for her to sniff and nibble on?
Sophie knows there is a time and place for rest or to just 'be' and a time to investigate and be alert to her surroundings.
Our days are always filled with those things that need to be investigated, aren't they? Have you ever noticed that there is always a 'to do' list that can be written? Between our jobs, our homes, our families, and our community, every day contains something, even things pertinent, to occupy us.
So, how do we know when it's time to just 'be?'
Just like Sophie, we have to take time. We need to make our rest and being time a priority. Whatever we choose that refreshes us, whether it be a nap, time to journal, to pray or meditate, or just sit in our recliners, resting our weary bones and cluttered minds, that's what we need to do.
And there's no need for guilt or wondering if we should go wash the dishes or put on another load of laundry or finish writing checks to mail or fix that repair. Because, when you are finished with your 'being' time, all of those tasks will still be there waiting for you.
When you prioritize your being time, you will have more energy to take care of all those other things. Sometimes all it takes is ten minutes to refresh and recharge. And the benefits of just being are enormous.
When was the last time you refreshed yourself and took time to just be? Do it today. Do it every day. Make it a habit.
Now, that's a resolution worth keeping.
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