Beautiful, it felt like I was there seeing the images of your Christmas in front of my eyes! I only now discovered that you are German. I am Swiss! So all this is very familiar to me. Thank you for sharing❤️
I am glad you have happy memories of Christmas with your family. I have had to do some waiting recently in my life and sometimes it brought fear and anxiety. Although more recently I have been feeling more peace in the experiencing the stillness. I have found more trust and strength in God.
There's something so cinematic in your self-portraits in cars. I keep thinking of Hitchcock as I look at them., kind of an amalgam of his films, rather than one specific one. Brilliantly done!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on waiting. It's fascinating the threads of thought and experience that connect us and the timeliness of it all. I love how you talk about the sweet delight of anticipation and what waiting (and patience) can teach us about joy, hope, wonder, and the return of light.
Your Christmas sounds very much like mine when I was a kid. Wonderful times. Thank you for the throw-back!
Patience is a life long challenge for me, but I am getting better at it. I think, my dog helped me a great deal with it. He can be very patient with me (f.e. when I am photographing on our walks). Waiting for him when he „reads his news“ had me impatient in the beginning, but I have learned to slow down and just enjoy that moment and just breathe while he is doing his thing.
Hi Manuela, I really enjoyed reading about your Christmas as a child. It sounds so magical! Thank you for sharing it - it really set the stage for this wonderful subject of stillness/patience. Slowing down internally is exactly what I've been striving for in recent years. Perhaps it's loss that got me to that desire, but it's not leaving me. I long for it all the time, so I read your post voraciously! I know that when I am able to cultivate that slowness, I feel much more at peace and awake. As Ram Dass said, “Everything changes once we identify with being the witness to the story, instead of the actor in it.” Thank you so much for this.
Your posts are easy to comment on …they’re so interesting to me! Indeed we do seem to do that “great minds think alike” thing and yes, we’d have a lot to talk about. One day I’ll venture out your way and drop in on one of your classes. Coffee afterwards ? ;)
I love this so much. We all need to ponder these words and take time to be still and just rest in the present. I hope that this Christmas will bring times of sweet togetherness.
Beautifully written. I was in a parking garage this weekend. Second to exit and the car in front of me couldn’t get out and it took ten minutes to open the gate. Cars lined in back of us. I have been practicing what you expressed so well. I felt myself becoming anxious wanting to force the situation that could not be forced but play itself out and used the time to meditate and sit quiet. The universe showing me it’s ok to slow down. Everything is as it should be. “Nature doesn’t hurry, yet all is accomplished.” Lao Tzu
Nicole, I love the example you gave and love that you intentionally chose slowing down over getting frustrated. I really believe in those little pockets of time that we can’t do anything about except choose how to use them. Thank you for sharing this!
I love your Christmas story and your views on waiting. There are times I really look forward to waiting so that I can read a book or write in my journal (yes, both on my phone). Long traffic lights, though…they still test my patience. Maybe I will try breathing and appreciate the pause. Thank you for this reminder! And Merry Christmas!
Beautiful, it felt like I was there seeing the images of your Christmas in front of my eyes! I only now discovered that you are German. I am Swiss! So all this is very familiar to me. Thank you for sharing❤️
Thank you!
I am glad you have happy memories of Christmas with your family. I have had to do some waiting recently in my life and sometimes it brought fear and anxiety. Although more recently I have been feeling more peace in the experiencing the stillness. I have found more trust and strength in God.
Thank you, Sarah!
I can imagine that the times of waiting have been filled with anxiety recently. Waiting can be so difficult.
I am so glad to hear that you are recovering well.
Right on. I waited patiently until I had time to read this, at least.
Your points are excellent and I loved your rich description of childhood Christmas.
I only have one more thing to add.
19
Thank you so much!! Haha, 19!
There's something so cinematic in your self-portraits in cars. I keep thinking of Hitchcock as I look at them., kind of an amalgam of his films, rather than one specific one. Brilliantly done!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on waiting. It's fascinating the threads of thought and experience that connect us and the timeliness of it all. I love how you talk about the sweet delight of anticipation and what waiting (and patience) can teach us about joy, hope, wonder, and the return of light.
Thank you so much, Anne! Cinematis is definitely a compliment I will take. :)
And thank you for your kind words. I appreciate you.
Your Christmas sounds very much like mine when I was a kid. Wonderful times. Thank you for the throw-back!
Patience is a life long challenge for me, but I am getting better at it. I think, my dog helped me a great deal with it. He can be very patient with me (f.e. when I am photographing on our walks). Waiting for him when he „reads his news“ had me impatient in the beginning, but I have learned to slow down and just enjoy that moment and just breathe while he is doing his thing.
Yes, German Christmas. I actually like it more than the American way of celebrating. Also, it was simpler back in the day, right? Somewhat, at least.
Love your dog and his patience. My four year old lab has non so far. :(
Manuela, this such a thoughtful piece on “waiting”. Loved it.
Thank you so much!
Hi Manuela, I really enjoyed reading about your Christmas as a child. It sounds so magical! Thank you for sharing it - it really set the stage for this wonderful subject of stillness/patience. Slowing down internally is exactly what I've been striving for in recent years. Perhaps it's loss that got me to that desire, but it's not leaving me. I long for it all the time, so I read your post voraciously! I know that when I am able to cultivate that slowness, I feel much more at peace and awake. As Ram Dass said, “Everything changes once we identify with being the witness to the story, instead of the actor in it.” Thank you so much for this.
Thank you, Juliette. Yes, Christmas was something my parents were really good at.
I always appreciate your thoughtful comments so much. It seems that we often think about very similar topics and would have lots to talk about. :)
Your posts are easy to comment on …they’re so interesting to me! Indeed we do seem to do that “great minds think alike” thing and yes, we’d have a lot to talk about. One day I’ll venture out your way and drop in on one of your classes. Coffee afterwards ? ;)
Juliette, that would be wonderful!!
I love this so much. We all need to ponder these words and take time to be still and just rest in the present. I hope that this Christmas will bring times of sweet togetherness.
Thanks!
Beautifully written. I was in a parking garage this weekend. Second to exit and the car in front of me couldn’t get out and it took ten minutes to open the gate. Cars lined in back of us. I have been practicing what you expressed so well. I felt myself becoming anxious wanting to force the situation that could not be forced but play itself out and used the time to meditate and sit quiet. The universe showing me it’s ok to slow down. Everything is as it should be. “Nature doesn’t hurry, yet all is accomplished.” Lao Tzu
Nicole, I love the example you gave and love that you intentionally chose slowing down over getting frustrated. I really believe in those little pockets of time that we can’t do anything about except choose how to use them. Thank you for sharing this!
I love your Christmas story and your views on waiting. There are times I really look forward to waiting so that I can read a book or write in my journal (yes, both on my phone). Long traffic lights, though…they still test my patience. Maybe I will try breathing and appreciate the pause. Thank you for this reminder! And Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much! Definitely can relate to the traffic lights...
Thank you so much!