Do Be, Do Be, Do Be, Do

Rumi: "Let the beauty we love be what we do." As absolutely fabulous women we each have special activities that we love doing. Maybe we are even a genius at the beauty we create. We may practice this genius for pay, or as a hobby. Or perhaps we simply dream about our talents. Old Blue Eyes sang, “Do be, do be, do be, do…today I am asking which one are you? Are you just doing your life? Or are you being the beauty and uniqueness inside you? We have only this day to concern ourselves with and we can choose to be in the beauty we love to do, or “do” our lives disconnected from the uniqueness inside us.   

When we are caught up in our daily activities it is easy to forget that simply being is enough. We can forget that we are each wonder-full, special and unique. We forget to really breathe. However, each time we take a breath we are connected to something greater than ourselves. With that same time we are given the opportunity to know we count. We are one of a kind. No one else can offer to the world what each one of us can. When we are spiritually connected we feel more confident and have a sense of value to those around us. Each of us is needed; each one of us plays a part in the grand scheme of life. We can celebrate that uniqueness, and glory in our specialness. We can cherish the design and the part each person plays.  

I get so caught up in my business of publicizing other people’s writing I forget how much I myself love to write. In the past few weeks I have been either preparing my clients to go to America’s largest annual book expo, going to the expo, being at the expo, and then recovering from the expo. This column became one of those tasks that spilled over from my desk onto the floor, something else unmanageable. I felt remorse, even resentment that “the work” I love to do had separated me from the “beauty” I love to create. I definitely don’t want to be a dull girl, always doing, never being. Today I take a big breath and make a new commitment to myself to find the time to do what I love. I reach for the balance in “being” the beauty I love to create and loving “doing” that work gains me my livelihood. 

This week’s exercise has two parts, practicing conscious breathing in all you do, and writing about your experience. Sit quietly with yourself and practice consciously drawing in your breath and releasing it. Repeat this process as many times as necessary until you feel looser, and more connected to yourself. There is no other goal or thing to do; simply enjoy your being. Afterwards sit quietly and check to see how you feel. Then write about your experience. The following quote may inspire you to breathe more deeply and be in that specialness of yourself. “That which cannot be comprehended has been touching you… coming to you, visiting you; not only every day, but every second that this breath moves—it’s been there. That....whose name cannot be uttered has come, many times, and continues to come every moment. And every time that power, that beauty touches you: you breathe.”  Prem Rawat

June 2009 Mari Selby

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