Unsplash/Thought Catalog
By Mary Boutieller
We have the opportunity to pause and take in the world in which we are a part—to savor the light and the dark—as part and parcel of our glorious lives.
The month of March is an interesting time for many of us. Depending on where you live, spring is not quite in sight yet (even as the date approaches), and we find ourselves pondering this colder, quieter time of year. For some of us, it is energizing, for others, it’s blankets and books time. Whatever it is for you, allow it to be; see if you can tap into your own true nature and honor the process that this time presents for us.
I love certain kinds of poetry and have a few favorite poets, one of whom is Mary Oliver. And although it is not often that I’m affected by a “celebrity” death, I was really sad to hear of her passing in January of this year. It felt as if I had lost an old friend. I’ve read many of her poems and find their depth and reach into my soul healing, provocative, thoughtful. She reminds me to be human, to be observant, to take notice of the natural world around us—sometimes to wake up. Poets can do that—wake us up. So can writers and revolutionaries, heroes and helpers. Sometimes it takes a little “prod” to stir our senses; sometimes the cosmic 2 x 4 shakes us out of our stupor and helps us realize that maybe there is a little more fullness to be had in these lives of ours.
What would that look like—bringing more fullness to our lives? It’s not what we see on the television or Facebook; it’s not what our families are doing or our best friends or even our most admired examples of success. Our fullest life is the life that brings us joy; that brings comfort and happiness, awareness and understanding—without fear, without empty longing, without competition. It’s what gets us up in the morning and maybe what puts a smile on our faces. One person’s homebody-ness, sitting by a fireplace, making hot cocoa, taking care of family, is another person’s travel around the world—and it’s all good and right and real. If we are spiritual beings having a human experience, what would spirit/Spirit want to do with this one imperfect and lovely life?
Mary Oliver, in her poem titled “Poem,” talks about the spirit needing “the metaphor of the body…and the dark hug of time…to be understood, to be more than pure light that burns where no one is.” So I wonder what is it we are doing in this world, in these bodies, with the benefit of the time we are given? Rilke said that the “point is to live everything;”and Danna Faulds said, “Who you are is so much more than what you do”. When was the last time you looked in the mirror and asked yourself if you were heeding your heart’s desire and noticing all the wonder in this world?
As I perused some of Mary Oliver’s poems, I came across this one, which touched my heart, brought tears to my eyes and seemed perfectly timed:
THE FOURTH SIGN OF THE ZODIAC (PART 3) by Mary Oliver
I know, you never intended to be in this world.
But you’re in it all the same.
so why not get started immediately.
I mean, belonging to it.
There is so much to admire, to weep over.
And to write music or poems about.
Bless the feet that take you to and fro.
Bless the eyes and the listening ears.
Bless the tongue, the marvel of taste.
Bless touching.
You could live a hundred years, it’s happened.
Or not.
I am speaking from the fortunate platform
of many years,
none of which, I think, I ever wasted.
Do you need a prod?
Do you need a little darkness to get you going?
Let me be urgent as a knife, then,
and remind you of Keats,
so single of purpose and thinking, for a while,
he had a lifetime.
As I sat there reading and rereading this poem and letting it’s message sink in, I contemplated Mary Oliver’s death and wondered if I had blessed the feet that take me to and fro.
We have the opportunity, each and every one of us, to pause and take in the world in which we are a part; to savor the light and the dark; the sweet and bitter both, as part and parcel of our glorious lives. I’d like to think I have many more years to play and contemplate, but the truth is none of us really knows. Ms. Oliver mentions Keats in her poem, so I looked him up. Poet John Keats, who wrote “Ode to a Nightingale” and 53 other poems, died of tuberculosis at the age of 25.
I think that there is a purpose to this life we are all experiencing—to spread love, to be kind, to inquire and explore and relish the little things. George Bernard Shaw wrote something that reminds me what life is really all about:
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.
I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”
How you carry the torch of your life is for you to decide—it doesn’t have to be big or showy or grand; it can be the smallest of gestures and compassionate acts that bring hope to your world. Hug a child, hug an adult; smile at the store clerk; hold open a door, lay down your hurt and defenses. I give thanks to Mary Oliver and to all of the people who inspire me each and every day. I’m grateful for this day—the only one I have. Let’s all reach out, in our own wonderful way, to touch another’s heart; to find moments of awe in our ordinary days, to lean in the direction of love, so that we, too, can be “thoroughly used up” before we die.
Mary Boutieller is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga since 2005. Her work experience includes 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic and 10 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Mary’s knowledge and experience give her a well-rounded understanding of anatomy, alignment, health and movement in the body. She is passionate about the benefits of yoga and the ability to heal at all levels through awareness, compassion, and a willingness to explore. She can be reached at: SimplyogaOm@gmail.com.