Worker bee

@ Plimoth Plantation - July 2011

Time with S's family was a lot of fun!

It was super busy, and I felt so spoiled to be eating out all the time and getting the chance to visit such nice places right in our own backyard.

The last day we ventured out as a group, we went to Plimoth Planation and the Mayflower II, i.e., a replica of the ship.

This crazy actor on the boat went on and on about the pilgrim days, and I did my best to insert modern day characters, like, say, Harry Potter, into the conversation to confound him. He was too good though, and could not be confounded!

As much as it was fun, the visit pointed out to me, yet again, that I am not that good at relaxing! I either like to work, work, work, or I tend to go into hiberation mode and not want to socialize or do anything much at all. I think this stems from being quite anxious in informal situations, which is a shame, because certainly those are some of the most fun and worthwhile of all. At any case, it's something to note about myself, and I hope it didn't rub off too much on anyone with whom I was spending such a good time.

I hesitate to say I should work on this, because, well, the point is that I work on a bit too much and a bit too often. I am glad I have a whole life to practice balance and gentleness, mercy and patience, with myself as with others!

One of the best ways I've found to stop freaking out, because in all honesty, that's what it amounts to, is to remember that it's not all about me. To just stop and listen and be for a bit. To do this all the time would not be much of a life, but to do this as needed is rejuvenating to the rest of life. It is astounding to feel the world and the forces behind it just moving right along while I am still, contributing nothing. It helps put things into perspective.

Now I travel to Maryland to visit my awesome family there for a bit. I am sure I will both miss S dreadfully while I am away and at the same time, feel like I wish I had weeks more to spend during the visit.

The nature and beauty of our mortal lives, I suppose though, is to spend them one moment at a time, savoring them for what they are.