Image: thisdrumandbass.com
My good friend Heather introduced me to this phrase: “Just be.” She has an awesome blog about alternative therapies. Go check it out! I’ll be here when you get back.
Back to “just being.” It took me a little while to really grasp what exactly that meant. I’m really good at nodding at people when they start talking about things I may not understand, this is true. I am even better, however, at nodding at things I want to understand.
And I desperately wanted to understand and learn how to “just be.” So I gave it some thought. Okay, I gave it a lot of thought teetering on the brink of mildly consumed. And then one day…
I was sitting on my front step, drinking my coffee, smoking my cigarette (bad girl!) and listening to the birds while feeling the wind on my face and watching the stars in the sky twinkle brighter than ever (stars seem their brightest between four am – five am).
And then like a sparrow nearly smashing into my face it hit me. In that moment, on my step surrounded by nature, stars and cars in the parking lot… I was just being. My head was not racing with thoughts, deadlines, my kids, money or writing. I was just a body on the step with a blank mind enjoying my environment.
How awesome is that? Let me tell you, it was so awesome that I try to “just be” at least 3-5 times a week now. And it helps. A lot. There is great peace and growth in just being. It is one of my favorite things to do.
How about you? How do you “just be?”
Darlene Steelman McGarrity 
I am really bad at ‘just being’ but probably am most engaged in that when I’m walking. I multi-task way too much.
I have a hard time as well, Joanna! I mutli-task a lot and it annoys me.. 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by! Always good to see you.
Same here. Love connecting with people who speak a similar language 😉
I find that I practice this more as I get older. I’ve grown to appreciate those quiet moments and recognize their beauty. For me it often happens in the outdoors — while I’m on a hike or photographing a snail. Those are awesome moments to savor, but sometimes I find that “just be” moment in the very ordinary. Like a steaming cup of fresh coffee on a rainy Saturday morning. The moments are all around — if we take the time to notice.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Diane. I love that you said “photographing a snail.” I haven’t seen a snail in ages! A steaming cup of coffee on a rainy Saturday morning (or a rainy Monday morning off) is the best!
I am fascinated by snails and always look for them when I’m out hiking. Here are some samples of my snail photos:
http://www.dianewordsmith.com/1/post/2012/04/lets-get-small-life-lessons-from-a-photographers-lens.html
http://www.dianewordsmith.com/2/post/2011/09/back-home-again.html
https://twitter.com/#!/DianeWordsmith/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FDguuUcfb
Great pictures, Diane! Thank you so much for sharing these… have a wonderful day.
Throwing the frisbee for my dog to catch and bring back. This is wonderfully freeing, and fun, since my Aussie absolutely LOVES it!
that’s awesome! thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I’m new to this as well, but have been working at mastering it. When I have obtained those moments, such as the one you mentioned–wow!
My experience was when I was gardening (just started that this summer), and as soon I had all the flowers in their new planters/hanging baskets, a butterfly came. It landed on a flower in the one hanging pot, then on my shoulder where it sat for what felt like forever (time seemed to pause; I watched its wings open and close), and then it repeated the process, back to the flower, back to me.
oh my gosh! I love butterflies (almost all bugs and such really) and whenever I see a butterfly, I just watch in awe. Nature is such an awesome thing to experience… glad you enjoyed such a precious moment. 🙂
I’m trying to figure out how to do this right now. I’ve had a few moments where I’ve reached that peace and being-ness, but they’re so fleeting, I can’t recall how to get there again. I hope that by trying at least a few times a day, I’m making it slowly learning the path . . .
Good luck, Deborah… it is a process for sure.. but once you get a handle on it, you’ll know it. 😀
It’s really acharge when you suddenly find yourself…just being.
So true, Gail. What an awesome feeling. 🙂
I wish I were better at it!
Just keep trying, Renée! You’ll get it soon.. 🙂
I love that! I do that a lot in the early morning too and have always called it ‘my time’…but I like “just be” better!
I love the early morning time.. especially when I have nowhere to be that day… 🙂 Glad you like “just be.” 😀