Physics - A True Organizer's Archenemy

I’m sweeping after a rainstorm. The sky is blue, the clouds puffy and inviting. The debris rabidly strewn about my patio puts me into a frenzy of ceaseless sweeping. What a marvelous metaphor sweeping offers, particularly in this time of change and transition.

Sweeping away dreams and wishes. Sweeping away comfort. Sweeping away the known and familiar. Sweeping away, or wanting to, grief, sadness, death, destruction.

As I sweep, thoughts of “the endless sweep” come to mind. This is not the first, nor will it be the last rainstorm. Similarly, clearing, cleaning, reorganizing is repetitive. 

Thank you, Entropy. 

Entropy defined by Merriam-Webster as:

1.Thermodynamics : a measure of the unavailable energy in a closed thermodynamic system that is also usually considered to be a measure of the system's disorder, that is a property of the system's state, and that varies directly with any reversible change in heat in the system and inversely with the temperature of the system
broadlybroadly : the degree of disorder or uncertainty in a system


2a: the degradation of the matter and energy in the universe to an ultimate state of inert uniformity Entropy is the general trend of the universe toward death and disorder.— James R. Newman
b: a process of degradation or running down or a trend to disorder The deterioration of copy editing and proof-reading, incidentally, is a token of the cultural entropy that has overtaken us in the postwar years.— John Simon

My inner organizer both loathes and loves entropy. She loves that she gets to organize something, bringing it to a state of order, nice and tidy, neatly arranged, sadly though to no avail. Like a new car that depreciates the minute you drive it off the lot, the moment that organization occurs, entropy sets in, hence my inner organizer’s loathing.

I suppose the bigger lesson is one of repeating patterns and cycles. This too shall come again, and this too shall pass.

In these times of uncertainty, entropy serves as a balm of certainty, not unlike the adage, “the only thing that is constant is change itself.”

May you find peace in the re-ordering of these disorganized and unsettling times.
Chantel

Photo by Steve Rybka on Unsplash

ALL IS WELL - ALL MANNER OF THINGS - EVERYTHING

Back to the blog; what a long break it's been. The #UltimateBlogChallenge inspired me to return.

Having difficulty sleeping? Me too. I went to bed at 11:15 and woke up at 4:30 this morning. The Covid19 crisis has my anxiety anxious; I didn't know it was possible, but evidently it's a "thing".

Anxiety woke me at 4:30 after only hitting the pillow 5 hours earlier. Anxiety whispered things like, "what if hubby doesn't return to work?"...Sinisterly rubbing its hands together, Anxiety hissed, "penniless, penniless...no water, no food, no shelter, no assistance." At this point Anxiety got anxious amplifying its toxic messaging to a shrill wail, "there's no use! there's no help. We are all #$@&%". Exasperated I threw the covers off and I said to myself, "that's it, I'm getting up, I can't go back to sleep."

Thoughts rolling through my gnarled head, I felt my way through the dark hallway to the kitchen for coffee. Light on, grinder whirring, I looked up at my "Ministry of the Arts" Calendar to read the daily quote:

"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." ~ Lao Tzu

I chuckled to myself. Thank you Universe for the wonderful reminder. I breathed a little easier, even smiled a little. I decided to add cinnamon to my coffee. Mmmm.

Warm cup in hand, feeling a little tired, but better than I had 5 minutes before, I went into my office. Computer password entered, the screen lit up and a PDF preview popped into view - I guess I had left it open from the day before. "Fasting and Feasting 2020: A Spiritual Practice for Lent" was opened to today's "fasting" and it read:

"Today, I fast from the fear of scarcity." 

Holy mother-$(*%&()&#. Talk about synchronicity. I mean, I know lent is all about learning to do without, letting go, releasing, surrendering, etc., but the contents of my "Fasting and Feasting" are not always aimed at this.

So...Once again, God, Universal Source Energy, whatever one calls it, had come through loud and clear to calm me and my anxiety.

I breathed ever more deeply, sipped my coffee, and sat back in my chair more relaxed.

I can't say that I won't feel anxious again. Nor can I state that my anxiety won't have a panic attack, but I do know that right now, in this moment I AM AMAZINGLY BLESSED and ALL IS WELL.

"Right now" is all I've got. I'm gonna take it and run with it.

May you find the peace you need to guide you through these turbulent times.
Warmly,
Chantel

#365daysofwisdom - days 8 and 9

Yes, I missed a day. It makes today's wisdom so relevant.

"Be here now."  ~Ram Dass

Simple, yet profound, and oh so hard to do sometimes.

Frankly, "It's always now." - ~James Finley

There ya go, two pieces of wisdom in one post!

What wisdom can you share?

#365daysofwisdom - Day 7

"...Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— 

I took the one less traveled by, 

And that has made all the difference."

~Robert Frost

#365daysofwisdom - Day 6

"Pause, breathe (deeply), reflect, respond."

How to get along in difficult situations.

#365daysofwisdom - Day 5

Today's wisdom demonstrates the importance of balancing being selfish and being selfless.

Given to me by Dave Fraser, a marvelous musician.

"Be Selfish...give yourself permission to do the things you've always dreamed of accomplishing... have a sense of self-worth, along with a unique talent and heart.

Be Selfless...in order to help make this world a better place for you having been here. Share your gifts and your love by your example, and surely you will have succeeded."

and lastly, Dave reminded me that "time is precious, and we should be loving others and living our lives with that in mind."

What wisdom do you have to share?

#365daysofwisdom - Day 4

The Dalai Lama's wisdom on religion.

Like the facebook page When We are Kind - a wonderful resource for random acts of kindness.

What wisdom do you have to share?