The Language of well-being: La vida animada
(Spanish: lah-vee-dah ah-nee-mah-dah)
I’m outdoors washing my hair with the front yard hose, which also waters grass browning from conservation efforts. Looking up, I notice more dry leaf litter to rake for fire safety. Indoors, the large, orange olive oil-stained bucket I use to collect kitchen gray water sits ready for the next two toilet flushes. A re-used plastic bag in the sink, filled with food scraps for composting, awaits emptying. I’ll rinse those for grocery shopping too, hanging them to ‘sterilize’ dry in the sun –a small concession to the global plastics crisis. Being a green Earth citizen can be high maintenance, as is taking in news or an audio book teaching about our invisible, pervasive, structural white privilege. Is all this too much I wonder, while reaching for my COVID mask to meet with my handyman?
I am a pretty resilient optimist—spent decades learning how to be less pessimistic, more hopeful. Being upbeat is a habit to acquire, a philosophy to adopt, a lifestyle to cultivate, all requiring mindful engagement of your moments. The Spanish have an expression pointing to a “life animated” no matter what. La vida animada pulses with appreciation for you, me, for all creation. I’ve come up with ten tenets for at-ten-tion that at-ten-you-ate ten-sions when on an uphill stride. (Smile.)
1. INTENTION. Commit to being in the world in a life-affirming way. Inspiration will follow. Tune in to what lifts, deepens and brings you back to life. Setting an actual intention keeps us on the path and finding positive frames to walk with.
2. MINDFULNESS. Breathe! Be present. Pay attention to the moment. Bear witness to thoughts, actions and feelings without being judgmental. Feelings signal whether we’re on track. Cultivate Awareness. Exercise conscious choice.
3. FOCUS. Develop the habit of focusing energy towards the positive end of the stick. When you focus on what you DO want to experience, Life delivers the goods more readily. Consider the notions that “like attracts like,” and the “law of attraction.” If we do live in an ‘attraction-based universe,’ we ‘attract’ and manifest into our lives the essence of what we deep down, most expect from it. Keep focusing back onto the ‘upbeat’ side.
4. APPRECIATION. Be thankful for being alive! Count blessings. Appreciate whatever, whoever supports, lifts, inspires, comforts, eases the way. What we praise, stays. Say thanks often, go on “rampages of appreciation.” Feels good, yes? Attracts more good?
5. KINDNESS. Starting with yourself, do as little harm and as much good as you can. Practice ‘random acts of kindness.’ Court feeling connected to all living things. Notice kindnesses being done around you. Check out http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org) Do Metta meditation, enjoy a cheerier, more peaceful existence.
6. SELF-NURTURE. Nourish your body, mind, heart, spirit. Discover self-care options each day. Today is it a nature walk? Petting a kitty? Taking a warm mineral bath or a nap? Having a quiet cup of tea? Communing with someone dear? Aaaaahhhhhh… that’s better.
7. COMPASSSION. EMPATHY. FORGIVENESS. These capabilities begin at home within ourselves. They arise naturally as we let go of feeling guilty, resentful, fearful, stressed. What relief, renewal, sheer energy is animated --a new lease on life! Intend to be compassionate, empathic and forgiving, Life will show you how, every time.
8. SENSE OF HUMOR. Cultivate your comedic sensibilities! Seeing a more universal, bigger picture than our daily soap opera relieves worry and stress. Create your own comedy routine, find something laughable in an embarrassment: what a relief just to laugh! Genuine humor is a true gift, keeping us sanely on an upbeat path.
9. PLAY. Reclaim your inner kid energy, your joi de vivre, a second childhood. Get lost in doing something you love for its own sake. Watch kids, dogs playing. Remember in your bones how natural it is to be spontaneous, free to be –you. Express the heck outta yourself: make room for heaven. Improvise!
10. FAITH. Discover what means the most to you, what gets you up each day, and BE that, on purpose. Know what you value, treasure it. As you let your love flow, faith in yourself, in others, in the world will be sustained quite naturally, even during the tough times. Choose la vida animada! Shining delight, Marcia