September 5, 2008 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer

I recently read that traditional Native American healers ask those who are feeling sick four short, seemingly simple, questions:
· When was the last time you sang?
· When was the last time you danced?
· When was the last time you told your story?
· When was the last time you rested in silence?

While most of us don’t tend to sing or dance, share stories or sit in silence, too often, we do tend to do those things more during the relaxed days of summer when schedules are more open and activities are more carefree.

As another school year begins, and clubs and organizations start gathering and meeting again, as our calendars start filling up once more, we need to remember to pause.

We need to pause in our crazy lives to sing more. We need to pause in our crazy lives to dance more. We need to pause in our crazy lives to share with others how we feel (not to complain, but rather to share our observations of our feelings) and how we fit in this world. We need to pause in our crazy lives to just be silent and let the silence embrace us.

Those four simple activities - sing, dance, share, and sit - reconnect us to ourselves and to our innate creativity. Those four activities renew and refresh not only our bodies and our minds, but also our spirits, and from there our relationships with those people around us.

I challenge you to sing, dance, share and sit for a moment each and every day. It is important for your health!

Beth

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