We all jus' need to chil'

Isn’t it great when someone reminds you of a lost and treasured memory.  It’s almost the same as finding that £10 note in your jeans pocket or, for some of us, that perfect pair of shoes that you haven’t worn yet, or the book on your shelf that you simply forgot you had.  I had one such moment this week when a family member reminded me of the William Henry Davies Poem “Leisure’. I remember a much-loved english teacher making my class learn this poem so that we could recite it.  At the time, when I was about 11/12, I thought the poem was about day-dreaming.  I now know, that this poem is about mindfulness.  This poem isn’t about being absent but about being fully present.  

If you already know it them I hope that, similar to me, this is a reminder of something wonderful and if it is your first read of 'Leisure' then may I suggest that you jus' sit back, read and chil’ …

Leisure

By: William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

I couldn’t put it any better than “ A poor life this if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare….”

Peace

Swipe, Snap, Scroll and Post

So what does the above mean?  Well unless you have been living under a rock or in the wilds of Borneo for the last five years or more you would recognise this as the new language of relationships.

Who would have thought that the start of romance now begins with whether you swipe right or left.  That people measure themselves in likes and friendships total in the hundreds (for some in thousands).  Well today this is what friendship and communication seems to be all about.  The fact that people in a restaurant or social setting will spend all their time not looking or conversing with the person in front of them but with their heads down swiping, scrolling and posting.  In fact, they will be posting about the very meal that they are enjoying, having taken a photo of their full plate and then a selfie of them enjoying a mouthful.  Oh there’s one I forgot selfie….(sound a little like selfish?)

I think it’s time for us to lift our heads up and get in touch and I really mean touch.  Human beings cannot exist without touch.  It is a fundamental need for all humans to spend time with other humans and to actually touch each other;  the one thing that we do not have an ‘app’ for.  You can call me old fashioned but as much as I think that Facebook and all of these other multi-media inventions are wonderful they should never wholly replace speaking with people and whenever possible meeting with them.  Human beings were not designed to live alone.  We may seek solitude from time to time and silence in order to establish equilibrium in our hectic lives but we are essentially pack animals who need to be with other members of our pack. Simply posting your wonderful life is not the same as really sharing it no matter what the app says.  Without human contact most people become withdrawn, stressed and often depressed.  Having friends and family around to enjoy your holiday stories, the funny thing that happened at work or the latest on the grandchildren and children…nothing can really beat it.

We are entering into the silly season, as I call it, or as other people refer to it the Christmas of festive season.  I call it the silly season because of the silliness that seems to be attached to it.  However, the one great thing about Christmas, not withstanding any religious connotations, is the fact that it encourages people to get together.  So lets see if we can make it a season of togetherness.  In the next couple of weeks challenge yourself to meeting up with friends and family and have an embargo on phones.  So whilst you’re together just enjoy each others company, at the end of the meal, drink, coffee or whatever it is take a group selfie and post that!

Being together is a basic need and with it comes the benefit of stress relief and a corner stone for wellbeing.

Oh I am so tempted right now to say “Happy Holidays” with tongue firmly in cheek.  Have fun meeting up.

Peace Love and Unity