Thoughts on Being

Guest House

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

**Rumi

I used this poem last night in class. It is a favorite of mine for many reasons. Mostly though, it reminds me of the importance of acceptance and just being still. Allowing thoughts, feelings, actions to happen without judgement, but instead with a welcoming of the growth and knowledge that can come from fully living each moment.

When hooping, if one adopts this philosophy, it allows for greater learning and less self-criticism. It can allow the hooper to fully open his/herself to the experience and grow exponentially. For example, the hoop begins to fall to the floor and the hooper in this mindset says, "OK, the hoop started falling when I took large steps, let's see if I can take smaller steps and still keep it going." vs. saying, " I just can't do this. I'm always dropping the hoop. This is so frustrating." The first statement allows the hooper to just be in the moment, feel the hoop as it falls, and then start the next moment with the smaller steps. The second statement closes the hooper off to learning and exploring new ways of being in the hoop.

What amazing freedom comes from not suppressing uncomfortable feelings, thoughts etc., but from just observing them, letting them be and realizing that they do not determine who we are. They do not have power over us, but are merely a guest WE have invited in for a visit. Someone to teach us, to guide us, to help us become more fully human.

So you see in my world everything somehow relates back to hooping...or Buffy The Vampire Slayer (but that's another blog) ;-) .