The Denouement
Denouement is the resolution of a dramatic plot or narrative.
June 2004



Ahhh
So the holidays are over. The racing around, getting all the gifts you can think of, strategically planning your route so you only have to make right turns, and finding all your secret parking spots — is over. New Years, the first bang of 2004, the last hoorah of the season, signaling, “thank goodness I can finally sit down.”

Any of you feeling a little let down, “Now what? It’s all over? Do I have to sit down?”

I was surprised to look at my calendar and see absolutely nothing the past 2 days. I really mean it, nothing. I was almost surprised as though there must be some mistake. I am rarely unscheduled.

Perfect. A golden opportunity to go inward and take time for me, go slow, stay in my “inner self” and in my home rather than traipsing around town looking for the elusive “it”.

Stillness
I slept late (okay, 7am is late for me), meditated a while, journaled about my dreams, listened to Andrew Weil’s Meditation for Optimal Health and finished the final CD in Caroline Myss’ Medical Intuition. I caught myself a number of times going off into what I “should” be doing or what I wanted to buy, do or see. My “busy bee” bumping up against the inside of my brain, unused to sitting still. Breeeaathe…focus.

I persisted, knowing that I just needed to stay with it and the itch to go somewhere, entertain myself, etc. would eventually fade. So I stayed in it, observing my muscles twitch and mind wander to other places until I finally returned to the singular, present moment. A moment of stillness.

Clearing
What else would I love to do? I would love to read and write and go for a walk — sacred treasures of true indulgence. So I did! All of them!

What have I not had time to do or put off? Clearing space and “stuff”. I reviewed library books for potential returns (I have a whopping 23 checked out), cleaned out my “chips-in-one-day” nail polish, let go of defunct jewelry — accepting I will never really wear two “orphaned” earrings together. Duh. As “nature abhors a vacuum”, perhaps I have now created space for more perfect books, high quality polish and lovely earrings. What else can I get rid of?

Welcome the Flow of Slow
The point of all this is that you may feel a sense of disappointment, a vague feeling of boredom or a nagging desire to be doing something. Stop. Really it is okay. When you begin again, do so slowly, consciously.

Use this time for you. Let the vacuum of nature pull in more time for you, rather than you getting sucked into new projects, stuff to buy or the idea that being busy is “what you always do.” What have you been putting off? What do you wish you had more time for? When’s the last time you just sat around in the luxury of time, no clock and schedule? Even an hour?

Track your thoughts. Track your impulses. Raise your awareness of how you fill your time rather than allowing a “slow flow” to your day.

Be a Mirror of Nature
It is January. Nature is quiet. It is darker with a more subtle energy. Be a mirror to nature and you may be amazed at how you too reflect more peace, stillness.

I promise you will not become a slug. Quite the opposite actually. You will likely become more productive because you will have allowed yourself the space to be still. You will be ready and raring to get into action again rather than dragging yourself around being busy. This pulls you into action rather than pushing. Kind of like the whole idea of winter moving into spring. Get it?

Note: This is different than sitting in front of the TV as a remote operator checked out. I am talking about checking in, being completely present and aware of your every thought and choice, but in stillness or at least slow motion.

Be still with the denouement. Slide down into the luxury of yourself.

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