image: http://bit.ly/tghr2014814
This week has been an emotional, confusing, are you fucking kidding me, kind of news week. It has taken a toll on many, myself included.
It has provoked discussions with my kids about all kinds of issues - most notably depression and suicide. At one point last night I passionately said something like, "You are young, you have a nice life, you have not suffered any real major losses or lived through anything horrifying, so I will grant you a pass at your broad judgments and hope you never have to live through anything that takes you down at your knees."
I could have gone all table thumping, yelling, and righteous, but it wouldn't teach anything.
I think the tears in my eyes were enough.
I "knew more" than they do at their ages. There were a few more stumbling blocks I had to overcome. In no way do I wish them that.
It is lovely that innocence is still a part of my kids lives.
And so yes, I try to be mindful. I try to be present. I am really very non judgmental (those skeletons lurk very close to the front of my closet).
I need to think about the future so I have something to shoot for. I need to remember the past so I don't always keep making the same mistakes. And when I trip and fall, because I often trip and fall, I TRY to be kind to myself because the voice in my head can be a vicious voice.
Reality can really toy with you.
May your attempts at mindfulness be greater than any voice in your head.
xo
It has provoked discussions with my kids about all kinds of issues - most notably depression and suicide. At one point last night I passionately said something like, "You are young, you have a nice life, you have not suffered any real major losses or lived through anything horrifying, so I will grant you a pass at your broad judgments and hope you never have to live through anything that takes you down at your knees."
I could have gone all table thumping, yelling, and righteous, but it wouldn't teach anything.
I think the tears in my eyes were enough.
I "knew more" than they do at their ages. There were a few more stumbling blocks I had to overcome. In no way do I wish them that.
It is lovely that innocence is still a part of my kids lives.
And so yes, I try to be mindful. I try to be present. I am really very non judgmental (those skeletons lurk very close to the front of my closet).
I need to think about the future so I have something to shoot for. I need to remember the past so I don't always keep making the same mistakes. And when I trip and fall, because I often trip and fall, I TRY to be kind to myself because the voice in my head can be a vicious voice.
Reality can really toy with you.
May your attempts at mindfulness be greater than any voice in your head.
xo
If I spend the five minutes just BEing while this song plays, it is, in fact, practicing mindfulness. You do it too.
http://youtu.be/u9IPxZkzU3o
http://youtu.be/u9IPxZkzU3o
