Waiting: November 9 -15

I'm doing an awful lot of waiting these days:

• Waiting for the Government to open up

• Waiting at the airport for a flight to leave

• Waiting for a buyer to make an offer on our DC house

• Waiting for a baby to be born

• Waiting for the next season

• Waiting for the other shoe to drop

And I don't like it at all. I suppose I'm not alone in this. Mindfulness encourages me to reframe these days of waiting into something different. When I want answers today, can I allow myself to abide in the uncertainty of tomorrow? Many days the answer is "no." Can I remain open to the unknown without catastrophizing or shutting down? Can I wait for life to unfold in its own way and time without clinging to a particular outcome? Please don't get me wrong. I'm not succeeding at this but I do recognize it as a daily practice.

Practice

I don't have answers this week but I have a few suggestions:

• Nature - Spend time in nature. When the human world seems out of control, tapping into the rhythm of the seasons brings me solace. A hundred years from now, my problems will be gone but the sun will continue to shine and the tides will still flow.

• People - Community is critical. When I'm overwhelmed with my issues, talking with a colleague, a family member, a loved one reminds me I'm not alone. Love is always here to support me.
  

• Service - Instead of focusing on myself, reaching out to another with kindness reminds me there is always something I can do to make a difference. Imagine if we all leaned into acts of service, whether big or small, what an impact that could make.

  
  

  Try one or all three of these this week and let me know if the waiting and uncertainty become any less tolerable.