Jackson Browne and Glenn Frye of The Eagles fame said it best, “Take it easy, take it easy. Don’t let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy.” Some people get messages from dreams. I get mine from old rock and roll. Who needs a burning bush when you’ve got Jackson Browne.
I know that take it easy means more than just hanging out but it’s a good start, don’t you think. Remember hanging out? Going with the flow and enjoying whatever pleasures the moment offers up. There’s an art to hanging out. I like starting with a clean house, fresh flowers are good. It’s nice to have the fixings for a couple of good meals handy, and a list of music to listen to. Good company is a plus. Everything else is optional. I wake up and go from there. There are no plans, no lists, and no agenda. When I hang out I let go of everything except the moment and the pleasures of life. It’s a time to slow down and savor life. Hanging out is not wasted time or a day shot all to hell. It gives my spirit time to breath and space to stretch it‘s wings a bit. I’m more creative, more relaxed and more peaceful after a day or two of hanging out. It’s my favorite way to take it easy but it’s not the only one.
There are lots of ways to take it easy, taking a day to celebrate the Sabbath, sitting on the front porch with a glass of sweet tea and watching the world pass will do it. Sitting on the bank of a river, folding laundry mindfully, listening with your heart, also good. I like hanging out, but I also take it easy by being gentle with myself and others, by riding lightly in the world. By not loading up my plate with more than I need. I need to be reminded of that on a regular basis. Take it easy is an approach to life that creates space for reverence, wonder, and gratitude to unfold in our lives, something we could all us a little more of. So, why not do it more often?
I don’t know about you but, I got stuff to do. You know, stuff? I listed all the stuff that I think is important in my life and that I like doing. It was a lot, maybe too much. I sometimes treat life like I’m a starving man at a cheap all you can eat buffet. There’s a big life out there and I want to live it but I want to live it without making myself crazy. A little discernment and more thoughtful choices are in order. Now, there’s a novel idea. I am the creator of my own life. I know that because it says so right there on a sticky note on my lap top.
I get to choose and my choices have power. So, what do I want from my life today? I want to let go of what keeps me from taking it easy. Because more than anything else I want the space it creates to just be. Pass the sweet tea, please.
