My best friend Melissa constantly reminds me of precious pearl “don’t force it” and I believe the path to simplifying our lives is balancing the need for structure, going with the flow and either climbing or avoiding the brick walls.
The summer days are longer and your spirit soars in free form. The school year is over and there’s a new groove. Do you let loose and go free form or do you maintain law, order, structure and a schedule?
The Flow Chart
If you’re like me, you have a slight semblance of schedule but yearn to chart your course of the day by setting your sail to go whichever way the summer breeze blows. On a recent day, I had stuff to do (short list – get the kids off to camp, exercise, errands, post blog, do work, make calls, pick up kids, dinner, etc.) Yet people were breezing in left and right wanting to talk, do lunch, make plans and talk shop.
So often I feel like I’m being shot out of a cannon, yet on that day, I didn’t fight it, nor race through the air. I talked to my friends until they were finished, answered each call and took the day one gust at a time. Somehow everything fit in and got done. Okay not everything, not even close, but what was supposed to be, was.
Divine Timing
In The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf the Gray responds to “you’re late” with the amazing pearl of wisdom, “a wizard arrives precisely when he means to.”
So, there. Like a wizard, I’m never actually late. I’m right on time — my time.
Relief is in Sight
I see these off-tangent moments as welcome summer breezes. The summer breeze is that fresh breath of air that signals relief. A welcome reminder that the heat wave will eventually dissipate. Yet that breeze is few and far between the long hot breaths of summer. You carry on pounding the pavement of your daily grind wondering if the summer breeze will come or oftentimes forgetting it altogether. Then when there’s no relief in sight, the breeze caresses your face for a brief oasis that reminds you the tides will turn and you are most welcome to take a refreshing dip in the cool ocean.
We all search this world to catch our breeze, like a surfer waiting for the perfect gnarly wave. It’s our endless search to find and nourish our true nature. Yet reading the signs or listening to the whisper on the breeze are easy to miss in life’s busy moments.
Taking a Clue
In my career and relationships, I’ve learned when a door slams in my face or a person shuts me down, it’s a pretty good sign that it’s not my entrance. So I go knock on door number 2, 3, 4 or 100 or alternatively, build my own damn door.
On days when I feel I’m chasing too hard, too fast, I can’t keep up or I’m facing a brick wall, I think perhaps it’s time to just slow down. Would you rather miss the wave, ride it, or wipe out? Giving up the chase does not mean giving up. Rather, show up and be fully present and have faith you’ll catch your breeze.
Innate Nature
I want my children to fully enjoy the moment and find their own ebb, flow and rhythm. I trust their nature and expose them to different things to see what they gravitate towards. I mean, why champion your child as the next David Beckham when he really is the next Bill Gates?
Nature is not forced but, nonetheless, it is the strongest force out there. In the still of the summer night when all the lights are out, the outdoors is loud as can be. Singing a song only the Cicadas and crickets can sing. I enjoy this symphony, knowing the stillness and quiet of winter beckons, which brings a different symphony and a blistering breeze.
The summertime is for simplicity or simple structures, so stay cool, lighten up and remember life is but a breeze.
About the Author
Cynthia Litman is a working modern mom with a classic twist. She has two delicious children and is the spiritual and visionary guide of Mommas Pearls.
Cynthia began Momma’s Pearls in 2009 when her grandparents passed away as an outlet to remember and pass down their wisdom and integrate it into the quickly passing moments with her young family. Mommas Pearls provides insight and support to other everyday busy parents.
Mommas Pearls has since dovetailed into the Mommas Pearls blog, talk radio show and M’S Gems – a blog written by her BFF Melissa who brings the practical, give it to you straight side of Mommas Pearls.
Cynthia is also an entertainment lawyer with a niche in spiritual entertainment. Her firm Cynthia R. Litman, Esq., PLLC caters to the spiritual entertainment market. She is a founding partner of The Spiritual Cinema Circle (www.spiritualcinemacircle.com), a DVD club for spiritual films, Executive Producer of the Independent films “Lost In Sunshine” and “Boost”, production attorney for “Conversations With God” (film based upon the books by Neale Donald Walsch) and distribution attorney for Debbie Ford’s documentary film “The Shadow Effect” and Nicole Clark’s documentary film “Cover Girl Culture”.
Cynthia is a contributing writer for the online magazine Bella Life and a Lifestyle expert for Skimbaco Lifestyle.
