They say that familiarity breeds contempt. I’m not sure about the contempt part – contempt as in ‘beneath consideration’ or worthless. That seems strong. But in my experience, familiarity certainly breeds a growing disregard or lack of awareness and appreciation, until perhaps I don’t notice or respect what is right in front of me.
It’s this lack of awareness that happens to us with our most familiar interactions. People we spend the most time with and things we see or experience every day pass out of our consciousness and appreciation. It’s so often we think that going away, being absent from those normal, everyday things and people that can bring us new and fresh insight, but what if we just spend a little time – at home – pondering those familiar things, those closest to us, in order to bring them back into sight? What if we don’t need to leave to appreciate them, what if we can learn the wisdom of what’s most familiar by staying right where we are?
This, I hope, will be our focus in the months of August and early September with our Sunday series “Staycation: The Wisdom We Learn from Staying Close to Home.”
- Summer gives us the opportunity to redefine productivity and ask whether we’re allowing ourselves to be defined by our busy schedules, our ability to ‘get things done’ or our contribution to an economy? What kind of productivity would we prefer? How connected we are with those most important to us? What brings us joy? The places where we can experience effortless action and a natural expression of who we are in our core?
- Being close to home might give us a chance to get acquainted with nature and beauty that is right around the corner. How do you listen to nature? What is it saying? What are you saying in reply?
- No matter what stage of life we’re in, we’re often so annoyed at interruptions. Maybe they take our focus away from what we think is important? What if the interruptions that happen every day are opportunities to experience life in a new way? What if they bring a net positive instead of negative to whatever you’re doing?
- What do changes we want to make in our lives require of us? Sometimes we think too big when we try to make the changes we want and follow through on the intentions we have. What if the wisdom close to home is in the small stuff?
- Where are we best suited to make the biggest difference? What gifts and skills are we developing to be better wherever we are?
As this wisdom unfolds for us over the next few weeks, ponder what wisdom you’re learning from the kitchen, the backyard, your walk around the block? What is right under your nose that’s calling out for awareness and respect, for you to listen to what it has to offer? Happy staycation!
-Chris
