“I understand now that I’m not a mess but a deeply feeling person in a messy world. I explain that now, when someone asks me why I cry so often, I say, “For the same reason I laugh so often – because I’m paying attention.” ~Glennon Doyle Melton
That quote is from a woman I do not know personally, or privately, or really at all. Her books have been recommended to me and her website is followed by more than a few of my friends and family. Reading her words this morning pushed me in the direction of looking at some of her work more closely. I love that in those few sentences she captured thoughts I’ve had so often about myself and about my life and then beautifully delivered them. Thank you Glennon!
I was reminded of a favorite yoga practice I would teach on the idea of attention and intention. Its aim was to encourage students to be aware of placing their attention on their intention. How yoga is not about perfect bodies and extreme poses, but rather the moment-to-moment grace of each new breath, strength in being present for those moments and what is possible when we slow down enough to intentionally move and to place our full attention on that movement, that moment.
It’s taken me more than a few years to feel like I wasn’t just some blob of a mess waddling my way through life. Acknowledging how deeply I feel this world around me and the people next to me and all that is happening was to acknowledge my being here is intentional and I need to continue practicing living that way.
Whenever I’m asked what I believe is one of my best qualities the answer comes easily: I’m curious. It’s in my curiosity and willingness to pay attention that I live and feel and thrive and grow. And yeah, sometimes cry, sometimes laugh, that’s life in a messy world.