The last time I needed to sit and write, I felt blocked for topics. I asked aloud if anyone had any ideas of what to write about.
A wise 8-year-old said, “Islands.” At first, that quieted me. I had no idea what to write. So I asked. Her response was, “Islands are so quiet and pretty.”
I will say I agree, but islands do not fit with the general theme direction of my writing. Yet, with a little thought, this topic started my mind quickly thinking about how it can fit.
Islands are quiet, pleasant places. There are certainly times I would love to be alone on an island. Life on an island would mean no one else to argue with, be responsible for, worry about, clean up after, and the list goes on.
Of course, the island life I am mentioning is a life where the person lives alone without anyone else. There are, of course, many advantages, and they are listed above. I believe the biggest advantage is the ability to live from center and not be thrown off center.
I’ve been focusing on living more from center. It’s a challenge. Center has an authenticity with rhythm, polarity, balance, structure, flow, and even cause, effect, and consequence. At least, this is how I perceive my center, since everyone’s center is different.
There are Universal Laws that, in general, govern living in center. It seems the first law is that center has structure, energy, and balance. There are also codes and ethics that affect and are influenced by current and past lives. However, no matter what gifts, privileges, and assistance are given, the power of choice supersedes influences.
It would seem then that living on an island would be a dream. On an island, there are no outside things to interfere with the quiet, pretty life. BUT, we don’t live on pretty islands. Though many of us do want to live from center.
So how do we balance living from center and living in the world?
It’s important to know it’s unreasonable to believe living from center means you can maintain being in Center all the time. All the things listed above, the worry, the caring for another, and more, are a part of living in a world with other people.
Island living is implied isolation without life conflict; daily living for people is not easy. Daily living comes with many conflicts that include emotional, physical, health, mental, financial, and more.
I often find many who think of living from center think it also means living an island life, far from usual life conflict. The perfect life is the perceived life of a Buddhist monk who has no normal life responsibilities. Many think the monk lives a carefree island life, free of stress and concern, with no life challenges to test Center living.
Whether this is fact or perception matters less than the belief that the monk lives in a carefree way, therefore always in their Center.
Living from Center is possible. It does not mean a person needs to live in a world viewed as an idyllic monk life. Living from Center does mean life is not constantly easy or constantly perfect. Center is realistic. It is also a tough choice and not simple complacency.
I’ll talk more on this topic.