Temperance
I may not be great at living in the present, but it’s not because I’m thinking about the past. 2022 is over and there were plenty of highs and lows and I did my fair share of reflection in December. But I’m ready to move forward. We all did our best last year, right?
So what will we be in 2023? My goal is to be more temperate. There are several related words that get close to the idea. Like discipline, moderation, self-control, or restraint. Detached isn’t too far off. Not detached in an apathetic way- but in a Buddhist manner, holding to worldly matters loosely.
It’s a constant battle and I find it useful to come back to temperance often. To listen more than I speak. To let others win arguments. To go to sleep early. To wake up before dawn, when it’s quiet and our minds are fresh and calm. To exercise most days. To eat colorful fresh foods. And to decrease complex carbohydrates, bad oils and refined sugar.
Temperance. Not worrying about tomorrow’s problems- yet preparing for them. Being satisfied. Realizing that today is all that matters. Practicing gratitude. Forgiveness. Quietly serving others. Not endlessly scrolling on social media or binging on television.
We have this one life. Made up of a finite number of days. How much time do we want to give to worrying, fighting, scrolling, and passively watching? Wouldn’t we rather spend time with our friends and loved ones? Or visit a new city? Or learn cooking/ plumbing/ Spanish? Wouldn’t we rather write or read? Or work on being a better partner/ parent/ friend? Or be more focused and productive at work?
How many more kidney stones will I remove? How many more times will I see my kids? Lie on a sandy beach? Visit Mali?
Everything is temporary. Our homes. Our clothing. Our cars. Our parents. Our moods. The seasons. The clouds. Our opportunities to love one another.
Everything.
The healthier, calmer, better rested and more temperate we are, the more love we will create during our one time on the earth.
Holy One, gift us with temperance. Free us to do your will and to use our lives to help others. Amen
Brandon feels pretty good- maybe an eight most days- and is grateful for every remaining moment.