“We have a tendency to think in terms of doing and not in terms of being. We think that when we are not doing anything, we are wasting our time. But that is not true. Our time is first of all for us to be. To be what? To be alive, to be peaceful, to be joyful, to be loving. And that is what the world needs most.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
When I was a little girl, my mom often wanted me to go outside to play so she could have some peace. “Play what, mom?!,” I would ask. “Play anything. Just get out there!” she would respond. I liked to be productive or have a goal and simply “playing” seemed like a waste of time. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that I often still try to be productive in every moment, instead of simply being.
But, can we change our thinking in terms of being rather than terms of doing? One day, a friend of mine was upset when she came over for a visit. She explained that she didn’t need anything except for me to be with her and allow her to feel upset. And, so we just sat together. And me just sitting there with her was enough. In fact, it was everything.
We are human beings, not human doings. Move forward today knowing that being alive, peaceful, joyful, and loving is what the world needs most from you right now.
*This is a repost from a previous The Way Back blog entry.
The Light