Taking a little time to stand and stare...
Posted on 17th August 2022 at 07:56
If nothing else, the recent spell of VERY hot weather – at least, hot for the UK (!) – has forced us all to slow down. Well, in many cases, grind to a halt…
It’s given us the opportunity to take some time out of our all too busy lives and, perhaps, mull things over. What’s working for us and, just as importantly, what may need “tweaking” – or, possibly, something more drastic…
Rediscovering what really matters to us – floats our boat (!) – and what just doesn’t hit the spot anymore. And may be never really did in the first place, but reflected the thoughts or desires of those around us.
Just as important is reconnecting to the natural world around us. Remembering what a tiny speck we are on this beautiful planet of ours, let alone in the Universe as a whole. And if that doesn’t help put our lives – and cares – into perspective nothing will…
Having a little time to ourselves helps put our lives into perspective, particularly all the minutiae which, in the overall scheme of things, really aren’t as important as the Little Monster in our head tries to convince us.
Which leads us neatly on to the wonderfully evocative poem by W H Davies, with its reminders of some of the simple pleasures which are all too easy to miss:
What is this life, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
As always, the choice is yours.
Photograph by unknown author
Share this post: