a change of pace

scenes from the warp-speed february that was

And just like that, it’s as if a switch flipped. And I went from a steady, easy, foundation-building pace to a full throttle burst of activity. Work projects gained momentum, friends and relatives visited from abroad, and my personal to-do list found satisfied check marks all over it. Places to go, things to do—everything just started happening. There was hardly any time for Anna and I to get together—let alone blog—so we opted to recognize that when a wave of activity comes, it’s better to ride along than fight against it. And while I smirk at how that sounds like the best excuse in the world (hey, who has time to write about life when we’re so busy living it? ;) ;)), I did decide to wholeheartedly embrace where I was, figuring that time and life move in cycles. With each ebb and flow, tempos shift and wane, and being aware and accepting of where we are makes all the difference. If we can't learn to appreciate the downtime, we become impatient. If we refuse to budge when it's time for haste, we risk getting stuck in a rut.

So when plans had to change, I’d do my best to roll with things, rather than grit my teeth as I played and replayed the “perfect” scenario that otherwise should have been. When all that go-go-go-ness caught up with me in the form of the stomach flu, I gave myself permission to put everything on hold, checked out from the world, and thanked God for the chance to rest and re-center. And when a last minute trip fell into my lap a few days later, I was recharged enough to allow myself to see it as a gift from the universe, rather than as something that would get in the way of what I already thought I would be doing.

Sometimes things take baby steps and steady progress. Other times there’s a need for speed. If we tune into life’s rhythm and pick up on what pace we should run, walk, or fly at, we struggle less, and live more. And if we also recognize when it’s time to just sit still, we are less likely to miss the miracles that happen right before our eyes.

Life can change in an instant. The thought of that used to terrify me. Now I find myself welcoming these glorious, light-filled flashes, trusting that as I snap out of one moment and into another, I will somehow always land on higher ground.

Love,

Tata

P.S. I always get a little choked-up when I hear this song. Whether we’re in one of our slow stages, or one of those rapid phases, it’s always good to realize that there’s no day but today... to sleep, to work, to run, to rest, to love, to laugh, to be :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHSVvML8hFM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh5JOqu1PLg

all the good things growing

As a parent of Generation Z, I worry that our children will no longer know the world the way we did as kids.  With all the dazzling new gadgets taking over our grade-schoolers lives, it seems to take more effort from the average parent to get them to play outdoors and enjoy the simpler, slower, more natural things life has to offer.

Recently, though, I realized that we actually don’t need to worry too much about nature losing her hold on our children’s future.  She has her warriors, busy as ever, working in a parallel universe as the geniuses that lead the world of technology and gadgetry.  Her warriors are busy planting their own vegetables, cooking healthy meals from their own produce, creating artisanal masterpieces in their home kitchens.

Some of the women I look up to and admire, like Maricar Xerez-Burgos and Paula Zayco-Aberasturi, have been harvesting the benefits of their efforts in backyard farming.  Here are some of the great ideas these super moms have been growing…

(photos courtesy of Maricar Xerez-Burgos)

(photos from https://www.facebook.com/pages/DowntoEarth/185062881523648)

Another thing I’ve learned is that it is natural for us humans to seek balance.  When we lean too much in one direction, our bodies (and our souls) let us know. We crave this balance more than we allow ourselves to believe it.  When we are stressed, a quick walk or moment outdoors can soothe and heal us.  When we’ve gained a little too much weight, our bodies let us know by sending us all sorts of signals, too.  All we have to do is slow down, be still, and listen.  Tata and I are on this journey together (but that's a whole other post). :)

So now, as a parent of Generation Z kids, I promise to worry a little less about all the new things the world has to give. I will decide to be less fearful and anxious about the way technology is changing the way we function.  And I will work hard to show my kids all the wonderful things that both nature and technology can bring to their lives.   I will allow them to bloom and grow in the world of technology, but let them learn from the land by taking them to gardens and markets and doing all those Sesame Street things I loved when I was little…and then with patience, wait & hope for the best. :)

P.S.

This year, on a trip to Bacolod, I was thrilled to be invited by another super mom and good friend, Aimee Fuentes, to her father’s farm. We all knew it was the kind of trip that would give our kids some of their best childhood memories. 

Then came a field trip to see how sugar is made.  Sesame Street dreams do come true! 

*See more of Paula's projects on http://www.downtoearth.ph/

anna