What I really need is...

Yesterday at home we spent a lot of time without electricity. I was supposed to get some work done and also organize and wash clothes, but obviously I couldn't do any of those things without electricity. Although I was a little frustrated at first because I already had a mental plan of what I would do and everything else, I noticed something that I really liked, and yes, it was just yesterday that it happened to me.

I went out to the small patio in the house where I live and pulled out a chair to sit under the guava tree that has been growing. Yes, it's already big enough to provide a little shade, and while I was there, without my mind on work or chores, I realized that the simple act of paying attention is something precious that I have learned on this journey.

Yes, I used to, and sometimes still do, stress out a lot about my to-do list and want to finish everything as soon as possible, rushing, going full speed ahead to finally have some free time, time for myself, and be aware that I am breathing. However, yesterday I noticed that I don't need to finish everything at once to finally give myself some time for myself. Sometimes you can simply decide to stop for a while and see, observe your surroundings and what is in them.

A whole hour went by and I didn't even realize it, sitting outside, watching the clouds, watching my cats be happy feeling the textures of the plants and the earth (because they love being outside), and I also realized that when there's no phone in between, or the stress of a to-do list in mind, your brain is more likely to go deeper, to think about simple things but in a complete way.

For example, I started thinking about a book I was reading, and I mentally broke down each of the emotions that the writer of that book was feeling, but in addition to that, I also drew reflections for my own life from that reading that I didn't know I had so present in my mind. I liked experiencing that, and in fact, I decided that when I'm in a hurry, I'll take a moment to do it.

Because yes, it's something I always do, but I usually do it when I've finished a hard day of stress and anxiety, or when I'm on the verge of madness from having experienced strong emotions. What I learned is that I don't have to carry this burden alone, and only when I'm done can I look for ways to clear my mind or recharge. I can take a break where there are no distractions, just my mind and me reflecting on everything.

So I can say that there are at least two things I have learned about the necessary baggage for this journey of life. One of them is that although electronic devices, technology, and everything else are very necessary to do certain things, for what is most important, such as exercising the mind, reflecting, or meditating, I don't need any of that, and it does my whole being a lot of good.

I also learned that I should not stop only when my body or mind can no longer take it, but before, when I see it as appropriate, necessary, or simply when I want to. Taking some time away from everything that distances us from ourselves and from what is most important will never be wasted time, but quite the opposite. I tell you this because after spending that time with myself observing creation and reflecting on life, I felt very calm and had the energy to continue with what I had to do after the electricity came back on a little later.

In the end, I don't need all those new technological gadgets that come out every day, and all those worries that only put my body on alert, as if a lion were chasing me. I don't need to live stressed out or full of tasks and other things. What I do need is quality time with my thoughts, to be able to sit down and be aware of what is around me, what I feel, what I think, and why I think it. I need things that we usually forget and that bring us well-being when we have them.