"FIND YOUR INNER CALM"

When our children were young mindfulness was the last thing on my mind; mindlessness was more like it.  Even past the toddler stage.  Where's money for the book fair? Where's that permission slip? Where's my homework?  Where are my boots? Can someone pick me up?  I have flute lesson tonight.  I have drum lesson.  It's church youth group.  Every parent knows this drill.  Working parent[s], kids, pets and then add the wonderful holiday season.  

I would have rushed past the idea of an inner calm.  Who had the time?  And mindfulness was not even a fad, let alone a movement.  I know there are readers at this stage in their lives.  Not many, because who at this stage has the time to read?  On the other hand, I see inspirational mommy-bloggers who help other moms feel less alone, less isolated.  Some are natural comedians. All are super-moms in my opinion. I read as many as I can.  

Why bring this up?  Well, because the holidays are laden with memories. Memories piled as high as gifts on Santa's sleigh.  Because my husband and I are sifting through memorabilia to create family treasure boxes for the grandchildren. Because so many of our Christmas decorations were made by a child.  And because all of my favorite magazines, the ones filled with Christmas crafting ideas, are reminding me to find my inner calm. 

So, I'm going to count my blessings and do it.  First, the blessings.  We made it through that early period of our lives. We're being recycled as grandparents, but we're not in charge.  Our role is limited:  school pick-up, enjoying a band concert, supporting school fund-raisers, sleepovers and lots of unconditional love.  So I have time for mindfulness, for seeking inner calm.

Other blessings.  Yesterday my two teenage grandsons paid a surprise visit while I'm still recovering from surgery.  Their surprises used to be scaring me to death.  Jumping out from behind something or other.  I'm great at feigning scared, aren't you?  It seems to be a grandma's  job requirement. But yesterday's visit was truly welcome. Nothing is better than seeing the love between these boys. 

More blessings.  With me s t i l l housebound from my surgery I thought we would have a lonely holiday season.  Far from it.  So many wonderful friends have made sick-calls.  Most bring soup or bread or a poinsettia.  Some have brought whole meals and joined us to eat them.  One of my friends today bathed Mr. Wiggles for me!  Can you believe that?  Our stinky little boy needed a bath and she corralled all 10 pounds of him and left him fragrant and soft. 

Then she brought in some outdoor pot-plants that needed saving.  Of course I immediately had negative thoughts about myself.  Have I paid visits and brought food and good cheer when others have been sick?  But mindfulness says "banish that inner critic."  So I did.  Thank you friends for sharing tea and cookies, for listening to my tales of recovery, for relieving my husband so he can do all the errands that pile up at Christmas.  And bathing Mr. Wiggles. Now that goes above and beyond! 

So I would say that I have found my inner calm.  Being in a recovery mode has eliminated all the hassle of the season.  Friends and family have picked up the slack everywhere.  The trick will be to retain that inner calm when my recovery is finished and I no longer need the help that has been so freely given.  What has been your experience?  How do you reach and maintain an inner calm?  I want to know everyone's secrets.  In peace, Nina Naomi