Thursday, August 17, 2006

Human Be-ing

People are the most interesting species. We take ourselves so seriously. We work hard. We work at playing. We work to find balance by adding more activities onto our calendars, rather than taking some out to breathe.

We’re not very good at just being.

Sitting under the white oak tree on the river back in my back yard, I can look up through the leaves to see the sky.

That’s the epitome of just being alive. I did that a lot when I was a kid. I want to do that now.

I’m figuring out how to carry that tree with me. I keep it in my mind and pull it out when I feel like it. That tree is wise. It knows all about just being a tree. It knows about be-ing.

I’m going to learn from my childhood tree. I'll become a human be-ing again.
−me strauss Letting me be

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did you get in my mind? Cause I think you just described me to a T. I just don't do 'nothing' well. I guess there's too much I want to do, experience and try, and just being, relaxing is very hard for me.

:)

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Jennifer,
It's so nice to see you. Have some juice and we'll sit down under the white oak tree to talk about writing. You should be reading some of what I've been writing on Successful Blog. There's lost of writing talk going on there.

I know what you mean about wanting to try everything. I want to do that to, and to live everywhere. What's the point? I wonder sometimes of staying in one spot and living only one life. Then I stop and look up at the sky and I have my answer. Ah yes breathing can be such a nice thing to do. :)

Anonymous said...

I think humans have a lot to learn from trees. I come from the land of giant redwoods, and I often would go walk among them when I needed perspective. I remember who I am and who I am not when I sit quietly beside them. They remind me of what is important and what isn't. I breathe more deeply in their presence.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Dawn,
Tres and nature make it hard to think that the human made stuff all around us is really as important as we sometimes make it out to be. That's why I like to find a tree when I'm feeling lost in the mess of the stressful-ness. Trees seem to have their identity fully figured out and to be quite happy with what they are. ;)

Anonymous said...

Human being is half verb! You project the best imagination can bring to light, We who see it, be it.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

I like the part about being without the "have to" be anything in particular. :)

Anonymous said...

Nice post. One I will remember.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Thank you, Cube.
Great to see you again!