musings by Patsy Seay Dollar

I am living life and loving it while things in our world is chaotic.  I think that Chaos is the word for the year of 2020.  But there is nothing that any of us can do but hang on for the ride and make our decisions as the ride lets us.  Talk about hanging on with the seat of your pants!  

In the spiritual world, things are brewing that are not apparent to us.  We can't make far reaching decisions, we don't know where things will end up... but you can trust in your spiritual guidance to help you take action on the things that you can.  It's hard not to know how tomorrow will end up for us...

But the good news is that now we have the time to rest and lean into the solitude that surrounds us.  I know that forced solitude is not easy... but just work on letting go of the extra stuff that distracted you before all the shit kicked up.  
My friend and I have been talking about the opportunity to take a step back and becoming objective in our views of our world and the place we hold in that world.  Being objective is not an easy space to be in, especially now.  For myself, it is sometimes so easy to fall into the bias and judgement of my ego.  But I really think it helps to take a step back and repeat: "Not my monkey, not my circus..." several times to let go of the judgement that is so easy to fall into.  

OBJECTIVITY:   What does that even mean?  
"In philosophy, objectivity is the concept of truth independent from individual subjectivity. A proposition is considered to have objective truth when its truth conditions are met without bias caused by a sentient subject. ​"
In other words, not taking ownership of a judgement, situation or idea.

But... I do want to say that sometimes you may need to make a judgement - there have been times when I did not agree with what I saw or heard going on around me.  The challenge is to understand yourself enough to know that not agreeing with something and arguing or causing a conflict about it is probably not the way to resolve it.  
This is a challenge that I am personally working with on many levels.  I am sure that many others are as well.  What I am doing about it?  I am learning to speak my truth - in that if I do not agree with someone or their views or actions, I speak up and say that I do not agree, and if asked, I offer my thoughts on the matter, and allow the other person(s) to have their own opinion and perception of their truth.  I can allow someone to have their own thoughts!  Yes, and I can have mine as well! If a discussion ensues - well and good.  If someone tries to make it an argument of who is right or wrong, I politely back myself out of the situation and let them have their opinion.  
What do you do?  How do you handle the chaos and bias that is whirling around you?  

I have actually been enjoying the solitude.  It has allowed me to give myself permission to rest and regroup.  To decide where I want to be in life and what I want to do with what I have in front of me. 

And I offer you an opportunity to give yourself permission to do the same.  Isn't it funny that we need permission to do these things?  

Others have found it very difficult to be in the solitude that this energy of 2020 has brought to us.  They are surrounded by their "loved ones" with no way to entertain themselves. But many have learned that there is a way to do "stuff" without going into the crowds.  And I see many that are looking back into the old ways and actually looking and listening to Mother Nature and the gifts of the earth.  It's another way to actively participate in your life and listen to what your body and soul are telling you - about the path that you are on and the paths that are perhaps available to you....! 

Some opportunities to think about:
Finding that special place in your back yard or on a trail where you feel like you can breath without constriction.  
Leaning into a tree and just listening to the wind and leaves
Sitting beside a body of water... it can be a pond or a river... and watching the wind play on the water... 

What thoughts come to your mind as you follow these actions of solitude?  Can you just let those thoughts fall to the side?  Put them in an imaginary bucket to look at later?  I ask you to be present in the place that your body is located and breath.  
That's what I am going to do for a while myself... 

Enjoy!  I will come back later to check in on you!  

Patsy 

So... today, at the day job - which is another way that I work to be of service - in service - a helper to a community...something - someone who motivates and inspires...yes!  Someone who motivates and inspires others within a community. That's the words I will use to describe myself. But I digress. Today at the day job I received something I needed both personally and professionally. The inoculation of WHY. The guidance back to the reason I do the work that I do. It was exceptionally beautiful. My Big big boss brought a TED Talk to the meeting to share with us. The beauty of it? Every person in the room was inspired and remembered why they were there!!!