A Gentle Reminder

As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives. 

- Henry David Thoreau

I guess I'm not quite done with this idea yet, this idea of needing repetition and reminders to over and over again choose the positive thought and path.  I thought again of HDT's words today as I hung up a couple reminders in the bathroom (that fabulous space of metaphysical pondering).  I have my Red Tent bead (thank you Jane!), an oval of smooth jaspar on a red cord and I hung it on the wall, from the pin holding up a small bone (I have a lot of weird found objects in my home).  And on the other pin, I hung a spiral shell on a blue thread.  Both are reminders of the women who support me, accept my love, teach me - my book club sisters, and my birth community sisters.

 

As I began to tackle my taxes this afternoon, I could feel that familiar pounding in my heart, money anxiety, number anxiety, deadline anxiety, dread of an unknown future.... and I reached for my stash of chocolate.  I really do believe in the medicinal value of chocolate to lift a mood and help us be happier, but today, I think it was a gentle reminder to be more gentle with myself, show some patience and have faith that it's all going to be ok.  That's easier to swallow with a bit of chocolate, isn't it?

I realize I surround myself with little reminders - be gentle, remember who you are they whisper - sweet bits of the girls' artwork on the walls, a laminated "I AM GRATEFUL" sign from long ago Sunday school, a photo B took of me at the river, back to the camera, squatting by the water's edge, intently drawing.  It's all around us, all the time, the world we want.....pass the chocolate so I can remember.