Risking by Patty Hansen

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil.

The first seed said, “I want to grow!  I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me . . . I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring . . . I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”

And so she grew.

The second seed said, “I am afraid.  If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark.  If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts . . . what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them?  And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground.  No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”

And so she waited.

A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

MORAL:  Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life.

Margaret Townsend is a certified breath work practitioner in Portland, Oregon who shares this three minute relaxation exercise for wellness [this exercise was originally printed in Real Simple magazine, August 2015].

Investing three minutes each day can help you feel more centered and energized.  Try it first thing in the morning when you are still in your pajamas.

Stand with your feet apart, a bit wider than hip-width, and imagine little springs in all of your joints: ankles, knees, hips, fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and jaw.  Bounce a bit into these “springs,” then begin to shake your whole body in a comfortable but vigorous rhythm, allowing your shoulders to move up and down, your head to bob, your hands to flap, and your breath to be free.  Keep this going for a whole minute.  When you stop, just be still for a moment and feel the natural movement of your breath; notice how alive your body feels.

Now sit down on a comfortable surface.  With your jaw relaxed and your chest and belly soft, take an inhale, feeling the breath flow in, bathing your body and mind in refreshing, cleansing energy, then falling freely into an exhale.  Allow the next inhale to come like a gentle wave rising, so there’s a nice, soft, circular feel to the breath – no break between inhale and exhale.  Continue this connected flow for about two minutes.  Then sit for a moment, breathe naturally, and enjoy being awake and feeling whole.

A client recently remarked to me about how long and overwhelming life’s list of tasks can be.  She was starting to come to the conclusion that it wasn’t worthwhile – – that for every one thing she might work on, several more crept up and perhaps it wasn’t worth trying anymore.  Her despair and fatigue were palpable.  I asked her if she knew the story of the Star Thrower, which she did not.  I share it here as inspiration for us to continue on, even when life seems daunting, because we can make a difference.

The Star Thrower (adapted, by Loren Eiseley)

One day a wise man was walking along the shore; as he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.  He smiled to himself, to think of someone who would dance to the day, so he began to walk faster to catch up.  As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead, he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, “Good morning!  What are you doing?”  The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing Starfish into the ocean.”

“I guess I should have asked; why are you throwing Starfish into the ocean?”

“The sun is up and the tide is going out and if I don’t throw them in they’ll die.”

“But young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and Starfish all along it?  You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young man listened politely, then bent down, picked up another Starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves.  “It made a difference for that one.”

Perhaps you have heard the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”  Being vigilant and determined are significant factors in achieving growth and change in mental health.  If we don’t try new approaches to our life, different ways of relating, and changes to old habits, we can stay stuck and remain stagnant.  Although it may be a challenge to muster the courage to try something new, keep the following quote in mind . . . Triumph is just “umph” added to try.  Put some umph in your efforts today!

Can’t find the spring in your step?  Living a life that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere? 

Consider adding something to your life that would increase its value.  Are you missing out in relationships with depth, in your spiritual connections, in giving to others or nurturing yourself?  Are you spending hours in a job that is inconsistent with your personal goals or morals?  Do you have hobbies and interests that you haven’t indulged in for a long time?  These value added life factors are important to life satisfaction.

The business world speaks often of “value added” in terms of production – – – at each stage of the production process, businesses want to understand what value is added at that particular time.  Consider the same for your life.  Given where you are in your life at this very moment, what is the next piece of value that you could add to your life?  Make sure it’s manageable and able to be accomplished so that you can glean from that value and move forward with a little more spring in your step.