We are living in a time when energy is becoming more scarce than ever. We are running out of gas, and we are so busy that we don’t take the time to stop and breathe.
Last week, I found myself completely overworked and running from one commitment to another. There was a voice inside me saying you are doing too much, and I kept saying, I’ll rest on Sunday. By the time Sunday comes, we begin to overindulge and another cycle of exhaustion begins.
When I was young, my dad came home for lunch at 1 PM every day, and then my dad would go back to work after a quick nap and an espresso. This “espresso time” was a part of my daily culture. There are still places in the world where you can experience this kind of lifestyle. The quality of living depends on the quality of your presence and your mind.
Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of my energy in my acting classes, where I stop my world to listen and to be present. Some of the activities are so intense, that I got to give all of myself. It’s a very healthy place to be in a resolute, or fully committed, as we say in the yoga world. Once we are done giving all of ourselves, we must realize that resting and collective energy is just as important to build our reservoirs.
In order to connect with my home within, I have filled my kitchen with tools and healthy food. I find that my home practices are more essential than going to a public class. I also added a gratitude practice that I have committed to before I go to sleep and first thing when I get up.
I often find myself full of energy when I help a friend or client in need through attentive listening, life coaching or yoga sessions. I am fulfilled when I sit in my acting class and learn new ways of being, or when I take walks by the ocean or in nature.
These are the places I go when I am feeling exhausted and in need some juicy, vibrant energy. You see, I believe that sometimes we become spiritual junkies, looking for more classes, more healers and experiences outside of ourselves instead of looking within. I was like that too, until I realized that what I was looking for was right here - and that was the best day of my life. Don’t get me wrong, I love practicing yoga in a community of like-minded individuals or going to listen to a brilliant scholar, but I love being by myself or spending time at home in my garden just as much.
