“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh
From the book, Peace Is Every Step
Allergies caught me off-guard a few weeks ago. Turns out that Junipers are a big culprit in wonderful Santa Fe.
Well, in the past when I lived in Denver, ragweed allergies consumed many of my autumn seasons. I could barely take in the glory of the changing leaves because I was so busy praying for frost. A hard frost that would kill anything that was bothering me.
This year, I wasn’t willing to give my spring to allergies. So, I started taking three homeopathic remedies from Whole Foods.
More importantly, I decided to become really present to Junipers. I had spent decades afraid of ragweed. To this day, I’m not sure what ragweed looks like! Crazy.
The good news about Junipers: I know exactly what they look like. They grow everywhere here. They surround my casita and grow prolifically both in town and along all my walking trails.
Out of my sheer stubbornness, I decided to befriend Junipers, become One with Junipers and refused to resist Junipers.
I am Juniper. We aren’t the most beautiful tree on the planet, but we
do grow like crazy! I am being present as Juniper and with Juniper in
my big, beautiful backyard, the Galisteo Basin Preserve. Why would I
ever want to resist Junipers and miss the glory of this full moon?!?
I truly believe we all (you, me and Junipers) are One. Therefore, I am Juniper.
And you know, a strange and wonderful thing has happened. I still have some allergy symptoms AND I am loving spring here. The more present I am, even with circumstances I would prefer to be different, the more I’m experiencing my awesome life.
So, what about you? How can you become more present to all of your life – the good, the bad, the ugly? What I’ve noticed, when I am willing to be present with what I think is bad and ugly, my experience of life becomes beautiful . . .
Post your comments and insights below.
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