As we sat having lunch I watched as he’d polish his classic-farm themed-teal pickup truck and step back to admire it. He continued to do so for the duration of our lunch and beyond-to us heading out for a walk. Him and his wife live there with their young son – who’s just a few months older than my son, George.
Seems like whenever he has a day off- he spends it with a dry rag-polishing the corners of his truck. And – each time – I think, what an incredible waste of time.
So – I started to look at this tendency. This tendency to qualify the way others spend their time and – the unseen forces that prompt us to action.
I recently had a few medical issues – of the female variety-and, did my usual method of self diagnosis – followed by a self prescribed treatment plan. Then one afternoon – a friend – whom I don’t speak to regularly, sent me a message. She told me she had just gone to the gynecologist and asked how long it had been since I’d gone. The conversation ended with her suggesting that I go.
The next morning – despite my general aversion to all things medical- I called to make an appointment. Yesterday, I went- and I had a conversation with one of the nurses about breast feeding. She told me about her sister-who’d gently taunt her for breastfeeding her oldest till she was just 15 months old.
She then relayed how her oldest rarely got sick – while her youngest- has a slew of health problems to this day and -coincidentally, was the only one that was given formula.
She left me with a strong piece of advice – that despite my son nearing 18 months of age and – I’m still continuing to breast feed – don’t listen to anyone who may suggest there is something wrong with this. At the time – the advice did not seem applicable – considering I couldn’t imagine who’d make a suggestion for me to do otherwise.
Later that afternoon – my sister-in law, whom rarely makes an appearance over at our house – decided to stop by. She asked me about breastfeeding and -when I planned on stopping- continuing to add, that George was no longer a baby.
What was most interesting was having the nurses words at the forefront of my mind. Took just a few hours for the advice to be relevant. What prompted my friend to urge me to the gyno in the first place and- then- for me to follow through? And- for the nurse to dispense advice just in time for an unexpected visitor…
I recently found a book at the library that I felt prompted to read – pushing any judgments I may have-aside. The book – entitled The Bhagavad Gita: A walkthrough for westerners by Jack Hawley-is – as the title denotes a narration- of sorts, of an acient Indian text – written by a westerner. Instead of dismissing it for these reasons – something urged me to read on and – so far – he’s translated it in such a way that has deeply resonated with me like never before.
Concerning action -the text reads as follows:
We are all busy doing our own dance- pulled this way and that way- and I’m sure it’s all orchestrated to a level of order unimaginable to us. The best I – or any of us can do , is continually strive to maintain awareness throughout it all.
