D-Empress - Contributed
I'm still reeling from a not-so-gentle yet well intentioned scolding that I recently received from a beloved matriarch. She enquired about my plans for the day, and after listening, she told me in a flash that my two-hour schedule would need at least double the time and so, I would be running late before I even stepped out.
My matriarch's no-holds-barred approach jolted me into the re-evaluating of the phenomenal superwoman legacy I inherited as a mind-condition and a tradition that likely requires re-orientation. The fortitude of our foremothers is to be acknowledged, respected and admired - yes. But in our times, it is apparent that a different type of strength is needed for survival.
Stress!
After advising me to simplify my life, her closing words were: "whatever you think you are doing by consistently overcharging your day, it is not love."
What's love got to do with it, you may ask? Well, everything! In our increasingly pressured and busy lives, the culture of being busy is something women use as a yardstick to measure their worth.
The side effects of juggling family, careers and all that makes up 'life', spell one word - stress! In our stress addiction, we become trapped in a paradigm of doing rather than being present and taking time to live and be loved.
We complain about it, yet we perpetuate it. So, we can change it!
Women month
August is women's month in South Africa. It's a time when odes to women abound through numerous celebratory activities. We mark the month in recognition of women's courageous role in the fight for freedom in apartheid and continued role in creating a new society.
In an admirable bid to recognise and reward women, a slew of award ceremonies, like, Woman of the Year, Women in the media, Women in Government, in business, and others, spotlight women who are transitioning society. What links them all? A core virtue - service in love.
While basking in the glow, I ponder when last we took time to taste every morsel of food in a delicious meal. When we just stopped to breathe, and when we will realise that loving ourselves first has everything to do with being.
Does it follow that the more we do, the more people who are touched by our love, cloaked as business (often to the point of martyrdom), the better?
According to my matriarch, a resounding NO! She believes our creator had other plans for us. She often reminds me of a simple philosophy directed by nature. As the sun goes down, so it is our time to slow down. Her matriarchal wisdom goes as far as to suggest that at night, we should not turn on lights or use electricity, as it is precious time, an invitation to restore, replenish and rebalance.
Lights out, love in!
