April Ambles: Perspective
Reflections of a Philosophical Forager — Day 3
It’s all about perspective. And about the number of hours you have slept, which influences said perspective.
Any number of events might unfold in a given day, and if you have not slept enough, or if you have somehow deprived yourself of the things that matter to you most, you will feel an aching discomfort, a yearning for moments past when you felt more aligned than you do at present.
How do you take the next step and break the chain of thoughts which keeps you in your current narrative of discomfort?
I cannot sufficiently recommend sleep, to myself or to anyone else. Time to dream sets all the clocks back to begin anew. Just as importantly, what you have eaten will influence your sleep, as it sets the tone for your physical being as well as the state of your mind.
Seek enjoyment, as it will nourish not only your body, but also your spirit. Barbara Kingsolver wrote, in Animal Dreams, “To have sweet dreams you have to have a sweet life.” I would add that you have to have a sweet meal, a meal that satisfies all your taste buds, be they sweet, salty, sour, bitter, savory, pungent…
Perspective means stepping back, looking at the things that work and those which leave you yearning for alignment. Perspective is different for each of us. For some it means a walk in the woods. For others it means an evening out with friends, or a perfectly orchestrated meal.
Whatever perspective is to you, it is yours to savor, to keep. The shadows of the past may continually creep in to haunt you, but you are stronger than the shadows. You can choose the mirrors of your mind, the sunlight of your heart. You are not the first, nor will you be the last, to strike out on your own, to value your true feelings over others’ expectations.
Believe in yourself. Your heart knows you. Step into your own perspective. It will lift you up.
For more amblings from the author, check out Child of the Woods: An Appalachian Odyssey.
