Slow and Fast - in Mexico

Most everything moves slowly in Mexico.  Although appointments are made, forget about things happening at the “appointed” time!  In Mexico, things happen when they happen.  Stores have their hours posted, but they open and close... whenever.  This can sometimes be frustrating, but mostly comical.  Meals are eaten leisurely (as they should be).  And parties and celebrations last long into the night... no hurry... stay and enjoy!

The only thing that moves fast in Mexico is the traffic!  It moves so fast, that it makes up for everything else that moves slowly in the country.  Yikes!  Hold onto your seat.  When traffic is congested, drivers push their way through, blowing horns like crazy.  Despite the rush, there seem to be very few accidents.

One thing that makes the traffic move fast, is that the combi drivers (of the city bus system)  get paid, not by the hour, but by the number of passengers they transport.  So, the amount of food that appears on the dinner table, is directly dependent on how may people the combi driver gets to transport.  They waste no time.  The first time I was in Mexico, I bumped my head extremely hard on the top of the doorway as I was entering a combi.  I almost passed out.  It was really scary.  The driver kept asking me if I was okay... “Está bien, Senora?  Está bein?”  But as he was asking... he was pulling away headed toward the next stop!!!  :-)

Special Occasions

My friend, and art teacher, Kristina, posted on Facebook recently, “There are exactly as many special occasions in life as we choose to celebrate. ~Robert Brault.” 

When I first read this, I thought... Hmmm... sometimes a special occasion, like Christmas, doesn’t always turn out as expected... there are some disappointments, or not everyone you want to see on Christmas Day can be there... but we celebrate what has gone nicely and those we did get to spend time with.

It also occurred to me that we can create special occasions.  Why wait for a holiday to celebrate?  The date of the celebration could be one of my choosing and I could work it around people with whom I really want to be with!  The occasion?  The first bud to appear on a tree in spring, the first leaf to fall in autumn!... a holiday only celebrated in another country, or a religious holiday that is different from my “own,”... the birthday of someone famous who inspires me... the anniversary of my high school graduation... oh my, the list of things to celebrate is limited only by one’s imagination, which is unlimited.

Now, those two things are all well and good, and fun... but perhaps the true meaning of the quote is to celebrate the NOW moments.  Celebrate the things that are part of our daily lives... friendships, people we enjoy working with, the part of our jobs we like best, the part of staying home that we like best, family members we most enjoy being with, meeting someone new, some funny or unexpected event, or dancing with the one you love.  Recognize the beauty of the MOMENT... and CELEBRATE it!  :-)

Less Stress in 2011

New Year's Resolutions:  Trying to have less stress is probably at the top of the list for most people.  It's there for me.  But how can we lessen the stress?  What can we change to make that happen?  We can change jobs, but the new job will bring its own kind of stress.  We can let the housecleaning go, but we'll eventually have to dive in and do it anyway and there will be more of it.  We can take a vacation, but we'll have to come back home sometime!  It occurs to me that we literally have to stop and take the time to relax and renew our energy... and make it a daily practice. Here are some ideas that seem pretty simple, but they'll make a difference if we make the time for them:

• Find a room or a corner where you can be comfy, light a candle, and read a good book.
• Breathe deeply.  Breathe in and out, and concentrate on your breath.  Have a background of soft music and... light a candle.
• Walk.  Walk along a path in the woods.  Walk the labyrinth at St. Marks UMC in Charleston (everyone is invited to enjoy it).
• Just sit.  Sit on a park bench, sit on the back porch or sit on a log... and listen to the sounds, breath in the fresh air.
• Watch water!  Stare at a lake, watch the river flow, sit by a waterfall and be mesmerized both the movement and the sound of the rushing water.  Or trickling water, as the case may be.  :-)
• Light a candle!  Just sit quiety and watch the flame... think peaceful and happy thoughts only.

Just a few ideas.  Again, they seem simple, but they'll work if we make the time to be quiet for a little while each day... calming our bodies and our minds.  Yes, we'll then go back to our daily tasks, but with renewed energy.  If we get into the habit of doing something that's meditative each day... we'll gain more and more peace and energy. 

That's my plan.  Watch out 2011... not because I'm charging into you!  But because you might trip over me while I'm chillin'...