Happy reading...
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Dear Friends of Cards by Anne,
Someone once asked the Dalai Lama, “If you had only one word to describe the secret of happiness and of living a fulfilling life, what word would that be?” Without hesitating the Dalai Lama replied, “Routines.”
Routines help us organize our time and be more focused so that we can maximize our opportunities. They can simplify our lives by providing a framework that gives stability without having to make a multitude of decisions every time we awake.
The regularity that comes with the start of autumn is quite comforting to me. Perhaps that is because I loved school, and being the wife of a teacher, we are beginning a new school year and another round of learning. Summer is the season for the imagination, but fall can be the season for putting those inspirations into action. Is there a routine that you've abandoned that you'd like to recover? I find my practice of sitting and centering becomes less daily during the summer months, and I long for that regular appointment with silence. It could be as simple as preparing a cup of tea and sipping it for a few quiet moments before launching into an activity.
I don't think the Dalai Lama meant that we should take cover behind our routines and not allow life to "stretch us." But if we jump from novelty to novelty, our souls fail to simmer in the lessons of the ordinary. Perhaps each of us can identify and begin a practice or two that refreshes and energizes our spirits, deepening our connections with one another. That is my wish for you today.
Gratefully,
Anne