Brief Departure

We are sometimes as different

from ourselves

as we are from others.

Francois de La Rochefoucauld

No matter how well we think we know ourselves, the element of surprise can catch us off guard.  In certain situations, things can trigger a response from us that is foreign to our very nature.  We find ourselves saying things like, "I don't know what came over me," or "I don't know what I was thinking!"

The brief departure from who we normally are could be an unusual indulgent purchase or a cutting remark escaping from generally sweet lips or skinny dipping on vacation.  The uplift in our routine can be caused by a spiritual transition or a financial windfall.  On the other side, we may experience a dramatic downward change from the loss of a loved one or decrease in financial stability. 

No matter how great or how small the dent in our own self-image, it is a matter of change.  In order to flow with these changes, we must not be rigid in our thinking and or actions.  If we can be flexible in thought, word, and deed, we create the opportunity to stretch and grow.

If we truly monitor ourselves, we easily recognize our drifting and can adjust our course accordingly; however, if we are not paying attention, we may discover ourselves way off course with out a clue as to how to get back.

Like the trees, we learn to bend in a breeze rather than snap in a storm.  Nurturing ourselves strengthens our roots with relationships and our changing world.  Being gentle enables us to accept our true selves no matter how we are in the moment.