Two Hands…

With the office closed this past week, I found myself craving solitude. Ideas about engaging with others or even new places fell away as I  intuitively understood I needed to focus on self-care.

But those of us oriented in any way towards serving others or making a difference often struggle with guilt when we step away or ignore the news.

How do we find the right balance between self-care  and helping those suffering, between the hand to help yourself and the hand to help others?

Each of us has to be vigilant in checking inside to discern when stepping away from the world is right and when engaging, even in a small way, is actually the healthiest thing we can do for ourself and others.

In his book about sacred activism, The Hope, Andrew Harvey offers his perspective. In the opening chapter, “Ten Things You Can Do Right Now,”  the first six things he lists all have to do with self-care! And number seven explains why: “Strengthened by prayer, practice, and inspiration, turn now to your life and the people in it.”

May you be blessed with a healthy balance between self-care and service that enables you to find and experience joy this July!

“Don’t ever forget that you’re a citizen of this world, and there are things you can do to lift the human spirit – things that are easy, things that are free, things that you can do every day: Civility, respect, kindness, character.”

―Aaron Sorkin

“Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”
—Eleanor Brownn

The Joy of Gratitude

Be grateful for your life,
every detail of it,
and your face will come to shine
like a sun,
and everyone who sees it
will be made glad and peaceful.

Persist in gratitude,
and you will slowly become
one with the Sun of Love,
and Love will shine through you
its all-healing joy.

The path of gratitude
is not for children;
it is a path of tender heroes,
of the heroes of tenderness
who, whatever happens,
keep burning
on the altar of their hearts
the flame of adoration.

―Rumi, translation attributed to Andrew Harvey