Homesickness

By on September 22, 2009 in Balance

I find it amazing how quickly homesickness can set in even whilst having a wonderful time.  I’ve been working and traveling throughout New Zealand and Australia since March and have experienced unprecedented hospitality, delicious food, breathtaking sights and many firsts, yet still experiencing a deep longing for home.  

Do I miss the heavy traffic?  The pretentious attitudes?  The smog filled air?  The polluted waters?  Not exactly.  What I have been realizing more and more each day is that the days I long for home the most are the days I am not centered and living in the moment, experiencing the NOW.   

Yesterday I went for a drive in Australia’s outback with the intention of living completely in the moment. I admit, there were times it was a fight, but when I decided to not fight yet find complete and utter solace in the scenery, wildlife and sensory triggers, I felt completely at peace and filled with gratitude.  That is when I realized that I find "homesick" for me is another word for "ungrateful".  

When you aren’t living in the moment and thinking or obsessing on the next, you are showing an ingratitude for what is happening right now.  When you are spending time with a friend yet obsessing on the thought of your next appointment, it is impossible to show complete gratitude.  I’ve found that when I have done just that, focusing on what will happen next,  I end my day empty, not feeling the fulfillment I would have if I had been present in each moment in the day.  

I have a few days left in Australia and another in New Zealand.  I WILL be present in each moment and say good-bye to homesickness, experiencing and sharing the full gratitude I possibly can with myself and  others in my presence.

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About 11herbsandspices

Namaste. :)

I believe I have been a truth seeker from the day I was born.  I remember being a very young child observing life as with a microscope, and I still do, though am learning patience and understanding on a daily basis. 

My interests range from learning to play the sitar, to learning to cook good vegetarian meals, to learning various religious doctrines, to hanging out with my dogs, to gardening, to beautifying things, to staring at leaves and seeing their indicidual beauty, to creating with clay, to learning the Yoga Sutras, to learning and practicing Hatha and Kundalini Yoga, to eating channa masala and aloo matar (yummy), to writing observances, to learning and learning and learning, to growing and growing and growing and last but not least, spending time with my wonderfully supportive boyfriend as well as with family and friends.

LOVE reading.  Am currenty reading: "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananada, "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow, "The First and Last Freedom" by J. Krishnamurti and for the 2nd time "The Mastery of Love" by Don Miguel Ruiz. 

Next on my list: "Walking Meditation" by Thich Nhat Hanh and Anh-Huang Nguyen, "Holy Cow" by Sarah McDonald, and....?

I strive to BE peace, though I am aware that "striving" is not the best way to go about that.  I'm a work in progress, as you can see, and am thankful to be a part of such a positive worldwide community.

 

 

 

 

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One Response to Homesickness

  1. SpiritualWriter September 22, 2009 at 3:00 pm #

    this is a lovely, thoughtful post, thank you. When you get home the homesickness will be for Oz! let us hope it is more of a wistful longing..