Turn your attention for a while away from the worries and anxieties. Remind yourself of all your many blessings. Ralph Marston, author of The Daily Motivator
My friend, the incredible, Dr. Gene Sharratt responded a few days ago to the previous Bucket and Dipper blog. I asked his permission to share it with you. Why? With so much ick in the air, I think it’s important to steward our attention so that we are filling our own buckets...at least not continually dipping into them. From Gene:
I so enjoyed your recent post, “How the theory of bucket and dippers . . . “ It hit a homerun with us as our kids read “Have you filled a bucket today,” to our granddaughter over a year ago and every night before they say goodnight to her, they ask these two questions,
(1) Did someone, or something, fill your bucket today? How? What did they do? What was the event/memory from today that filled your bucket?” However, what they focus on is the second question,
(2) Did you fill someone’s bucket today? What did you do to fill someone’s bucket? How did they feel? How do you feel about your actions/behavior? Our kids tell us that our granddaughter always has an answer, or two, to each question. Imagine drifting off to sleep each evening with such pleasant and positive thoughts about your day, and possibly setting yourself up for the next day with more positive behavior.
Gene then continues...
We were with the kids on Sunday and our granddaughter asked me, “Papa Gene, do you ever have nightmares?” I said, “seldom.” She asked” why?” I said, “because the last thing I do each evening is count my many blessings and think of good things that happened to me during the day and what I am looking forward to tomorrow. It helps me remember the many good things in my life and plan for more tomorrow.” My granddaughter said, “I am going to start doing that, too!”
I really love these stories of kids and adults practicing gratitude and kindness because I know that it really does help us live more peaceful, more hopeful, happier, healthier, and more successful lives. (I do hope you have noticed that the buckets and dipper concept is the embodiment of “the Golden Rule” which all cultures and religions endorse.)
AND the beautiful stories help us not get bogged down by all that ick which I mentioned that is floating in the air around us…you know - that ick that our brains seem so attracted to noticing and holding on to so that we miss the the kind, the hopeful, the innovative, the humorous, and the beautiful. To stay healthy and happy and connected, we have to be intentional about stewarding our attention. How we direct our attention determines if we are filling or dipping into our own buckets (go back to the previous blog if the bucket and dipper concept is a new one for you).
Yes, some of the ick is decidedly political, we’re getting close, only about ten days away from the election. Sunday November 3rd, I’m speaking to another church using Braver Angels materials. Braver Angels is a civic organization, not affiliated with any religion, but it is a movement that resonates with faith communities. There is a newly formed Braver Angels Faith Based team. They’ve put together resources for religious communities to use as the U.S. readies itself for the November election.
I enjoyed looking at the materials aimed at several different religious communities. Perhaps, wherever you are on your spiritual journey, they can help you stay centered before, during, and after the election. They can help us protect our buckets from fear, anger, sadness, worry and helplessness.
Consider taking this pledge
Regardless of how the election turns out, I will not hold hate, disdain or ridicule for
those who voted differently from me. Whether I am pleased or upset about the
outcome, I will seek to understand the concerns and aspirations of those who voted
differently and will look for opportunities to work with people with whom I disagree.
And here is a multi-faith prayer:
O God, as we approach our November election, so many find ourselves increasingly
gripped by fear, distrust and anger. We ask you to help heal our nation from its
dangerous divide. We pray that you give us the clarity to see that your Truth manifests in
many forms. We pray that you remind us that we are called to love one another, as we
are each made in Your image. Guide us in creating an environment of honor and hope,
even when – and especially when, we don’t see life through the same eyes. Lighten the
burdens that have been placed upon us so that we may be bearers of Your light. Bless us
with the wholeness of health, the sweetness of faith, the richness of wisdom and the
calming coolness of your peace and mercy.
Written by the Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, NJ, retired Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz, Senior Rabbi, Temple B’nai Jeshurun, Short Hills, NJ, Imam W. Deen Shareef, Masjid Waarith ud Deen, Irvington, New Jersey
And may I add my continual prayer:
May we be happy and healthy and know that we are loved, may we use our suffering to be kinder, stronger, wiser.
How might we journey together to the Good Life even during these tumultuous times by stewarding our attention...keeping our eyes from being overly focused on the ick, and being intentional about noticing the good, the kind, the beautiful so that we are resilient, hopeful, wise, peaceful. and loving bearers of light, filling our own and others' buckets?
A moment that gave me joy, John in his kayak, paddling at Lake Wenatchee. A beautiful October day.
The power went out for over 2,000 people yesterday in our area, we were literally in the dark - trying to figure out how to get water, go potty, and eat breakfast. We kept waiting and waiting for the PUD to do what they always do - get us back up and running in minutes. But not so on this day. Nevertheless look at the fun, old-fashioned creativity, and resilience that darkness fostered. Pictured here is John's nephew, Tom. A guy who never fails to find a way to figure things out, have a little fun, and always radiates a bushel of light. That's pancakes there on the griddle. The spam has already been cooked and eaten and the coffee drunk (I took the pic and it's a little wonky, but maybe that just adds a bit of humor).
And in our weekly compassion circle on Tuesday night, we shared all the things that are filling our buckets - that's another way of thinking about self-care and self-compassion and its a prerequisite for being able to fill others buckets. Harvesting from the garden, taking pictures, being in nature, walking and looking for mushrooms (which helps us be mindful of the beauty and bounty of October), being with friends and family, petting kitties, and watching cute animal and baby pics were some of the fun ways we shared that fill our buckets. And here's a little instagram post that cracked me up for some unknown reason...perhaps it is her ability to give a sweet little voice to being different (without denigrating the "zoomer arounders") - and accepting her own need for calm and "laying around".
(I'd love to know how you are intentionally stewarding your attention and how you are keeping your own bucket filled during these tumultuous times)
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