White space is a blessing, a privilege many do not even know exists.
Some are forced to pivot or make serious changes when grief, pain, sickness or loss come around, but you can pivot without loss or tragedy.
Create white space and room to change on your own terms, and this is easy to do by going on a retreat or simply choosing to question your routine, expose yourself to new sources of inspiration, or simply do less intentionally to make room for more, whatever that may be.
The black bag in the title? Let me tell you what it is first, then tell you what it’s got to do with white space.
The black bag in question is actually a simple cloth bag with a Mac Donald cafe logo on it. It was left behind on my car’s front seat by my ‘sonny dearest’, obviously with the intention to use it to carry something.
This bag had only one working ‘arm’ or handle.
It had been used like that, with only one handle by my son, and he never
thought to ask to have it changed or fixed.
On one of my rest days,- days I leave open intentionally without a fixed
agenda-, I sat to fix it, and I noticed holes at the bottom so I fixed it too.
I may never have noticed the holes if I didn’t have ‘white space’ that day.
I probably wouldn’t have noticed the bag had one arm as well.
Even if I noticed, I may have been too busy to get it done.
It’s okay to have holes in our lives, we all do. But we need to make space for our holes, to sit with them and give them space to mend.
Not after the next achievement, after the next milestone, after certain
relationships mellow or fizzle out.
It’s amazing how many people remember those who care about them only when pain or loss hits, we can do better, we must do better with ourselves and with others.
Perhaps you cannot drop everything, clear your schedule and go on retreat.
But, there are other ways you can create white space.
You can start by watching less tv.
You can place a timer on your social media.
You can have lunch in a quiet place, or dinner without music, podcast or
sound in the background.
You can wake up earlier and sit with your thoughts for 10 minutes, you can make out time to journal, or simply finally do your laundry and get some thoughts clear in your head.
Whatever time you can take out, 2 minutes, 5 minutes or a day, do so urgently.
You can shut your eyes for 10 minutes once a week, not to sleep, but to
simply tune out from your environment every now and then, the world will not crumble.
Dare to listen to silence, clear your schedule, free your thoughts, and see
where they lead. You don’t have to act on those thoughts, simply observe what your soul is saying or even screaming.
Do this with Grace and without judgement; just allow your feelings to come to the surface even when they may be negative; give them their due rite of passage to travel safely and within reason to a natural and righteous end.
Please note, you can catch your thoughts and feelings in action before it
becomes a disaster, but, you need space and time to observe them first.
White space is not just about silence and retreat, it is also about a state of mind or state of being.
It’s about being open to change, willing to grow and do things differently form how you always have, but without desperation and with utmost care, gentleness and patience with yourself and your process.
How will you be taking out white space today? Will you draw a picture, take a walk, or finally drink only water with your lunch?
I’d love to hear your stories, struggles and triumphs.
Rooting for you always, may you win, receive clarity and find joy and peace along the way.
Cheers to a lighter, truer and happier you!
