The Luxury of a Pause
There is joy for me in writing these blog entries on a regular basis. Sometimes as I prepare to write, I notice a time of just sitting that allows me to get in touch with the topic for the day. Other times, the topic has presented itself and the article unfolds to a great degree, and my job is to sit in front of the keyboard and move the information into written form. And on occasion, there is a blank for a day or so where there is no topic.
Having past experiences of ‘struggle’ in the area of writing, and preferring the current experiences of joy and flow, I appreciate this new way of being with the blank topic that seems to work. It not only works well for writing, it also seems to work well for Life. This way of being is to be present with whatever is right in front of me.
Today what is in front of me is my keyboard. More specifically, it is my keyboard with a key-cap for the period – mark which is loose and wobbling under my right ring finger (blessings on the gift of touch-typing from high school days!)
Lacking a period – mark in writing makes a brand-new game of completing sentences. I can express enthusiasm with every sentence! It’s possible to ask questions, as in ‘what comes next?’ Without a period – mark easily available, I find myself pausing between each sentence.
There is an interesting space in the pause my keyboard is gifting me. It provides a moment to be fully present with the keyboard and the wobbly key-cap. It supplies a place to reflect on the next breath, the next keystroke, the next word, the next action. It allows me to decide what to share about what I notice in the pause.
The first thing to share is the concept that when we experience the luxury of a pause, there is space for conscious choice and awareness. For example, right now I’m noticing that the path I walk with this article is transforming as I pause at the end of each sentence. The initial title of the article shifts from “right in front of me” to “the luxury of a pause” as I see how the space of ‘being still’ provides multiple choices and opportunities, both for words and for life-experiences.
I reflect on some of the thoughts of earlier in the morning, where there’s a feeling of uncertainty about the ability to write with a floppy key-cap. I recall examining possibilities to remedy what I judge to be an inconvenience. I appreciate the current perspective I gain from being present with key as it is. I am grateful for the pause that presents itself every 12 – 20 words. Life is good!
In our every-day, walking-around space, we have the luxury of a pause whenever we choose. In a moment, we can breathe deeply, feel grounded, and be as still as possible within. With only awareness, we are able to notice and reflect upon the possibilities within the pause. It’s an opportunity to select our words and actions consciously with clarity, ease, and grace. And it is a great gift of Life to experience the gratitude that also lives within the pause. May your day be filled with delightful pauses!