One Thing at a Time: What Animals are Teaching me, Part 2
Reflection on what I am learning from animals photo by Sandra Butel
I am Sandra Butel and this is my beautywalk.
beautywalk is the path that has been created by me taking one step at a time in one particular direction one moment at a time.
One Thing at a Time
Today’s walk brought with it more time for contemplation as I followed the two dogs: Poppy and Dougal wherever they decided to take me. We left the 2 story English cottage, walked across the grass, through the rickety garden gate, by the vegetable beds overtaken by weeds, through the other little gate into the larger field that leads to the woods and the open fields beyond. The dogs were as usual waiting at the second gate, at times showing their impatience with a little chorus of whines in their respective voices and sometimes, in Poppy’s case, a full on resonant bark of anticipation. Their bodies twitched as they waited for the precise moment I would slide the bolt to the left so they could race out with every bit of energy they possessed into the freedom of the larger field beyond.
I started off the walk contemplating yesterday’s meditation with Jeff Warren, my favourite narrator and author on the Calm App. I have developed the habit of sharing time and space with Jeff and his guided meditations and have really come to see him as my friend, even though we have never met. I think it's the way he starts each meditation with an authentic simple “Hi, it’s Jeff” and ends it with some version of “I look forward to being with you again tomorrow for something completely different”.
Jeff’s topic this time was how we can simplify our attention and feel relief by focusing on “One Thing at a Time”. At the end of the 10 minute guided meditation and contemplation on this theme he said something that resonated deeply with me: “the simplicity and the peace that comes from committing all of yourself to one thing in one direction, one moment at a time”.
Focal Point Photo by Sandra Butel
I looked at the dogs in front of me and again a smile lit up my face as I realized that they were the epitome of one thing at a time; and here was Jeff’s theory (literally) in action. I started to compile a list of examples of how the dogs were showing the joy and simplicity of committing themselves “to one thing, in one direction, one moment at a time”. I also had a revelation that the expression “man’s best friend” could be telling when we asked ourselves what we could learn from dogs about being our own best friends.
One Direction One Moment in Time by Sandra Butel
What Animals are Teaching me, Part 2
So, here it is, in no particular order the lessons I took from my canine charges today:
Fields are made for frolicking.
This one is clear to me - wherever you are frolic with everything you have for this one particular moment; not focusing attention on what has come before or what is to come next. Just be here, in this moment of wonder and fun and enjoy it fully as part of what you deserve to experience.
Water is wet and is meant for drinking or for dipping, whatever the occasion calls for.
If this requires that you bend your knees to get your whole body in a shallow puddle, so be it. I could translate this one in so many ways and am choosing the simplest of all, drink a lot of water and when you can enjoy immersing your body in water, whether in a warm bath, a cool lake or a freezing cold ocean. The feel of water in or on your body will bring refreshment and rejuvenation and is such a glorious gift to experience in all its forms.
Rain is just vertical water and just as fun.
Some days there will be rain. Instead of letting it dampen our spirits we can find a way to make it a gift; make it fun. This is on a metaphorical and literal level. I know this one too well and in all my years of trying to control the weather as a festival director, I did learn that sometimes the rain brings the best memories as we all pull together to make things work that would have been impossible on our own. Grab onto each experience for what it offers and be grateful for what is, in this moment, as it won’t come around this way again.
Our bodies in the grasses are made for scratching whatever needs to be scratched.
Focus time on identifying your needs and rather than spending so much time on what you don’t need, spend time taking action and making choices to fulfill what you do need, first in this moment and then in the next and so on to the end of time.
Give Way photo by Sandra Butel
The regular pathway is just a suggestion.
When I pause to pay attention I realize that my life’s pathway has never been linear, but has been more circular, twisty and windy. As I have been more able to accept this about my life I have been more able to feel the joy of simply living my life.
Run as fast as you can for as long as you can and then rest.
Both parts of this are important in making our best lives possible. Giving ourselves over completely to whatever we are doing in the moment and giving it every ounce of energy we have. Knowing when and how to rest in a way that recognizes and celebrates both our efforts and our limitations and showers us with love and comfort so we can get ourselves ready to run again.
Listen carefully to the world around you.
You may be called upon at any moment. Be ready. This could be a calling that is coming from inside or outside of ourselves. A voice that is calling to us that there is something more to experience in our lives and that playing it safe, holed up in our isolation is not going to get us to where we most want to go.
Check in on those you love on a regular basis.
This is self-explanatory and comes from the dogs running full out in one direction and stopping to come back and check in on me, which they do at regular intervals. This leaves me feeling cared for by them and will do the same for your loved ones (and for you) when you check in on them. It is a sort of coming back to center which could be accomplished with a regular practice of pausing with a childhood picture of ourselves in hand, to draw on the deepest feelings of compassion and empathy that reside inside of ourselves and that may come up for us when we gaze upon our true selves.
Checking in on a Loved One by Sandra Butel
Live your life with beginner’s mind.
Treat each moment like it is a brand new opportunity for discovery and joy and learning. No matter how many times the dogs wander the same pathway they always approach it as if it is the first time and boy, oh boy, are they ever excited about whatever is happening in this moment and then this one and then this one.
Put out the highest possible vibration of positive energy and it will come back to you in kind.
Have you ever noticed how happy dogs make people who like dogs? How the energy we all have is so uplifted when we talk about them and we rejoice in them rejoicing in one another or in whatever they have their attention focused on in that moment. I have just started reading a book that talks all about this: “Good Vibes: Good LIfe: How Self Love is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness” by Vex King. I am only 31% in and already his words are so close to what I want to write in my blogs and in my eventual book, that I am grooving on the good vibes and learning.
Most importantly, be fully and truly a dog and embrace every aspect of who you are. This is all about us accepting our humanness and the sometimes less than stellar thoughts and behaviours we exhibit as part of the way our brains are made. We have been taught so many behaviors that are not useful and the first step to changing these is to accept them all and love ourselves, warts and all.
Nature has Good Vibes by Sandra Butel
Invitation to contemplation
What have you learned from animals that you can share in an effort to bring some ease to others?
What one thing can you do today to be your own best friend?
What can you do today to focus on those habits and foods and practices that will support the growth of your best self?
What next step are you ready to take to build the life you have always wanted?
Resources for Further Study and Personal Growth
For a new approach to meditation I highly recommend Jeff Warren and his simple and balanced approach. He is very down to earth and I enjoy every single one of his meditations that I have listened to on the Calm App. If he is not your jam there are other voices there too to choose from.
For some incredibly resonant ideas about living a life of maximum greatness check out Vex King and his various books, meditations, newsletter, etc.
For some more learning on meditation from one of those who had a lot to do with bringing the concepts and practices to North America check out Jack Kornfield’s take on beginner’s mind.
My new program From Worry to Worthy offers up an opportunity to change your perspective and find the self-love that will change everything. Check out the full program details and book your first free session with me to get started.
I am Sandra Butel and this is my beautywalk. What’s yours?
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