Moments lived in “piece”…enthusiasm…
I am often asked, "If I adopt the "piece 2.0 lifestyle does that mean I have to be passive, mellow, and walk around in a trance saying ummmm all day?" Pretty funny question, but a valid one. The fact is the "piece" 2.0 lifestyle is the opposite of what is described above - "piece" is a call to action, not inaction. It asks each one of us to live our lives to their fullest, not be brain dead.
The best example I can give of living the piece 2.0 lifestyle is not yours truly, it is my 2 year old daughter. Check that, 2 and a half year old daughter, as she frequently reminds me.
Watching my daughter's shear fascination with everything, in every moment she is awake (we are very happy she still takes 2 naps a day) is truly inspiring. She gobbles up life and is absolutely the happiest kid you will ever meet because of it. She is living life to its fullest regardless of what others (that includes her bothers and parents) think.
She stops to admire (for long periods of time....) the plants, trees, weeds and flowers on a walk, she loves watching the bunnies, birds, squirrels, roadrunners, etc. that cruise around our yard, she laughs uncontrollably and unapologetically. She has no idea there is a clock or something called time, for her, the time is now.
She accepts and welcomes other humans and animals (and her dolls btw) without judgment and is also a great hostess. Stinky diaper, no issue, everyone poops, lets play. Dirty face, you look like you have had some fun, where's the dirt? Can we go to the dog park and play with the dogs? When is the roadrunner coming back to our house, don't be scared daddy, etc, etc, etc.
She, quite simply, is at "piece" & peace in most moments and she still sleeps like a baby - wish I did!
Now, all that said, she ain't perfect, all you have to do is try to stop her from "living in the moment" and that becomes another story completely. "We have to go do such and such", "ok, you've seen the bird house, let's move on", "play time is over", "time to go to bed", "you cannot pour 3 packs of sugar into the ice tea for the 5th time", etc. etc.- let's just say those moments are not so peaceful! So, big wow moment here - should they be? I mean, is she perfectly imperfect and am I screwing things up by trying to mold her into an ego-centric, on-time, impatient, type A human like her papa?
Jesus said, "Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." Heraclitus (ancient thinker) said, "Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play." The Tao says to, "...foster growth without ruling..." and "One who lives in accordance with nature does not go against the way of things. He moves in harmony with the present moment, always knowing the truth of just what to do."
Given the above - who is the child? - who is at play 24/7? - who is true to herself 24/7? - and who moves in harmony with the truth of the present moment? This one's a lay up, it ain't me.
So, should I act like my 2.5 year old or mold her into society and "our" way of life? I have decided that she is the one on the right track, she lives with unabashed enthusiasm that is absolutely contagious and so should I, and btw, so should we all. Wayne Dyer put it well when he said, "...become childlike and leave behind our childish (fear, anxiety, prejudgement, & fighting) adult ways..."
Okay, I am off to get some Red Bull, I may need it to keep up with her!!!! "piece".