the gift we give ourselves - meredith murphy

[Sowelu]

the gift we give ourselves
5 June 2011


Today's my birthday and it's been a quiet day so far.

I had planned to have dinner with Takis at Laguna Beach—but he's sick as a dog in bed, so there will be a rain check on that one. I wanted the rest of the day to myself anyway—the way I like most days—so here I am.

It strikes me that when we evolve into living a deeply authentic life then days like birthdays look an awful lot like regular days. I felt like it, so I slept in and allowed myself to lounge in bed, enjoying the softness of my sheets. Normal—I typically get up when I feel like it. Took Jackson out and enjoyed the cool morning air, listening to the birds in the bottle-brush tree hanging over my fence.

Inside again, I turned on some Stan Getz, opened up the blinds and then washed my face. Loving the cold water on my skin, very refreshing! Dressed in comfortable clothes that I also wore last night (not the underwear of course) but my fashion life is simple—I wear jeans, a cotton tank top and then something over that—today a long sleeved t-shirt, it's in the 60's and going to be cool. I put on my watch and some scuffs to wear around the house and that's it.

Then I went into my kitchen and drank a large glass of water while looking up at the large evergreen tree outside. There was an owl in it last night again and I keep hoping I will see it. No such luck, but the sky is gorgeous—streaked with white and quite spectacular. I then fed Jackson—doing our usual little dance, while making some oatmeal with raisins, ground flax seed, cinnamon and a little soy milk. I made vanilla coffee and then set a place and ate this at my table with my cat rolling around on the other side, along with a soy sausage. I eat this pretty much every day—just different fruit depending on what is in season and organic and local. Nothing lately that looked fresh, thus the raisins. Then I wrote for a while. Reflecting on my feelings lately, what arose for me following the powerful clearing transmissions during yesterday's event. I also grounded myself, adjusted my aura, ran cosmic energy through my spinal pathway, connected with my higher self and spent some time in meditation.

Phase one of the day complete. I made another cup of coffee in my French press—half decaf this time—and then sat down to read the messages and birthday wishes in my inbox and on my phone.

So this is my day! And not to bore you with the details, but to share that these seemingly mundane things are entirely enjoyable. I began my birthday this way and it is entirely to my blissful liking. Interestingly while writing, I made a list of things I would love to experience this year—and most of them are just extensions and expansion of how I already live.

Liking finishing my book, which I know will happen—I already write daily.

I was thinking I'd like to go back to Paris, or maybe to Prague. I haven't walked the streets in a European city enjoying the architecture, the markets and the energy in a while. London is kinda on my radar for the fall… we'll see how that flows.

It reminds me of something Seth Godin said once, when people talked with him about emailing on the weekends for his business. His response was kinda like, "I LIKE what I do, why would I take a break from it? For what? It gives me pleasure so I do it everyday." (liberal paraphrasing)

I get that. My life is really an honest extension of me. I like being alone with myself. So a lot of my day is like that. While alone, I like writing, reading, playing with my pets, painting, drawing, looking at things—nature, images. Listening to music. Cooking. I love being outdoors, so that happens often during the day. I love to look at the sky, the stars at night, open the windows in the morning and freshen up the energy inside. I like to sit at my desk and listen to the whistling sound of my dog sleeping on the floor, while composing my perspective in words.

I think paradise is actually kinda easy. It's so much simpler and closer than I used to realize. It's just living in harmony with me and doing what I want. Some people are surprised that I don't make big plans for my birthday, or want to eat sweets (I don't really have sweet tooth—so why would I eat sweets?). The way I celebrate is just to live, doing what interests me right now. Allowing the day to be created as it comes—without feeling any need to choreograph it in advance. This way it flows my way—which makes it perfect. Isn't that what we all want on our birthday anyway? A perfect day? Why not have one every day?

Loving what is, is so much easier, when what is, is just a clear path to being you. No forced activities or facades. No dressing up for others, or feeling you need to look good or impress anyone. Just listening to what feels good to you… and for me today, I think that may be walking my dog, looking at a new desk that fits in my tiny office to make sure I like it and then if so, ordering it. It occurs to me I can order Indian food as my substitute dinner, and I haven't had it in a while, it's one of my favorites, and I'll also have leftovers for lunch tomorrow—so I'm looking forward to that. But if something else feels good later, I'll do that instead.

Other then that? Who knows… probably some time reading. Maybe looking at dwarf lemon trees for my patio. A walk comes up again—I can feel I'm itching to get outside—and walking around the Rose Bowl feels right today—it's gorgeous when the weather is like this. I may continue researching how to attach a lattice to my fence where I want to plant a bougainvillaea so I can enjoy it outside and see it from my kitchen window.

I share this with you to encourage you to live your life authentically—doing just what pleases you and to realize in being YOU as you please, you are living integrity and coherent innately + you're probably HAPPY. Isn't that the point?

By being YOU, you accomplish all you came here for and the whole earth moves into more ease as a result of your vibe.

Loving what is, IS aliveness. It's presence to life and in this presence we receive all the gifts of awareness and life.

It's also a whole lot easier to love what is, when what is is perfectly aligned with you—moment to moment. And the only way to do this, is to do what you want, say what you feel, be who you are, in every way in all moments—spontaneously, authentically, sincerely, without in any way second guessing it.

I know so much of our culture and history trains us away from this very self-centered mode of being. But guess what? It's the clear and easy path to joy, contentment, fun and ultimately? Bliss.

Following your bliss, makes loving what is, a piece of cake. So there's my birthday sweet Ease. And my best gift: allowing myself to be ME. In all ways! What could be sweeter than infinite freedom, deep happiness and endless joy?



Found here

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

© 2011, Meredith Murphy | Modern Paradise Publications www.expectwonderful.com All Rights Reserved.