Arthur Rubinstein, the well-known pianist, was asked, “How do you handle the notes as well as you do?” His response was immediate and passionate, “I handle notes no better than many others, but the pauses – ah! That is where the art resides.”
My reflection, Magic often happens during the pause, a moment when something to be discovered is given the opportunity to rise up. When Jeff was in active addiction, I was afraid of the silences, when I didn’t hear from him or when I didn’t know how to respond to addiction’s continuing problems. In time, I learned to ‘stay close’ and allowed space for the pause. It was in those moments when my Higher Power could do the work.
Today’s Promise to consider: Instead of filling the air with words and trying to solve every problem, I will pause and allow the purity of silence to provide space for me to reflect and think. On this New Year’s Day, I’ll pause, open my heart and listen to the inspiration that resides there.
Happy New Year Libby and friends
Recently, at a parents support group meeting, our speaker (alcohol/drug counselor) was asked this question by a mom, “I am afraid my daughter will show up high at our family Chistmas gathering, what should I say to her if she is high?” The counselor responded, “Be quite, be very, very quite.”
Continued prayers for all of us and our children.
Happy New Year to all and I hope 2015 brings some small measure of good change or whatever you need in the coming year.
Pause…….staying quiet. I’ve learned to do that, but it does not come naturally. I have to remind myself to get out of the way and not do anything at times. Not my strong suit., since all of my training as a nurse is to jump in and problem solve or fix. That doesn’t work well in this situation, so , I need to stop, pause, and think…..
Libby says to allow space for the pause…….I will use this as a New Years exercise…….
Thanks Libby
Love
Jane
Happy New Year to everyone also!
Wow I have been giving this post a lot of thought and then your post Pat says so much.
I know I have heard it said many times that it is a good idea when you are upset or bothered by something to write down what you would like to say and put it away for a day or two. Often you may find what you have written down does not seem as important, thoughtful or caring as you may have originally intended it to be. By taking the time you now have an opportunity to reword what you would like to say if it still needs to be said at all.
This always seems so sensible to me, so why is it that I so often have reacted immediately with emotion only to end up saying things I have often regretted?
I know that my reactions are directly related to fear, fatigue, despair, so many of the emotions that seem to so easily have become our daily companions. It is constant work to keep these a bay. I also find it so easy to get confused when I deal with the chaos that can occur around my daughter. It can be like a little tornado that whips through the house and all you are left with is the question “what just happened”
I have learned over the years that I don’t need to react right now. Chaos and emotions only cloud everything and if I react I am left with nothing but regrets. So its much better for me to take some time to think, listen to the silence and hopefully find the answer I need.
Thanks Libby