“Just be,
and enjoy being.” 
Eckhart Tolle

Every now and then, I find it refreshing to set aside a little time to do nothing. Yesterday was one of those days. 

I woke up around 9:00, a bit later than usual, but certainly acceptable for a Sunday morning. My calendar for the day was empty, so I gave serious consideration to how I might spend my precious time. I knew that a trip to The City was out of the question, because the Outside Lands Festival would draw thousands of people to the west end of Golden Gate Park. Staying here in the South Bay would give me an opportunity to enjoy a warmer-than-usual day. The high for the afternoon was predicted to be 90º. I decided that would be my best option.

After showering and dressing, I enjoyed a bowl of oatmeal with dried cranberries for breakfast. Kathy had a list of things to do during the morning hours, so I had the early part of the day to myself. I did a little reading and a little writing, then walked to every unit in our condominium complex to hand-deliver invitations to an upcoming event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Williams Commons, our homeowner association. Kathy and I were among the first to move into this complex when it was constructed in 1986.

In the first ten or fifteen years we lived here, random realtors would knock on our door and ask when we were planning to “move up.” I knew what they meant, but I chose to play dumb and reply, “Oh, I prefer a downstairs unit.” Believing that I was simply ignorant, they’d explain that they were asking when we would be planning to buy a “real house.” My response, delivered politely, but with conviction, was always the same. I’d say, “This IS a real home — and I have no plans whatsoever to move.”

Yes, the 1980’s lifestyle certainly was one about “upward mobility” — of beginning with a starter home, then getting something bigger (and better?) down the line. When we moved in here, I liked this place. I still do. Realtors often speak about the three top priorities for finding a new home: (1) location; (2) location; and (3) location. We have that. 

It has been easy for me to embrace the words of Sodo Yokoyama, a Japanese Zen teacher, who urged his followers, “Decide that wherever you are is the best place there is.”

In my home, I have two particular areas I consider to be sacred spaces. The first is my office. This is where I do most of my writing. This is also where I do most of my communicating with family and friends by phone, via email or text messages, or handwritten notes sent by way of the United States Post Office. I’ve also been known to catch a nap in my recliner every now and then.

The other sacred space in my home, a small area which has recently been renovated, is the patio outside our front door. Especially on comfortable summer days, it’s an ideal place to visit with people, read, listen to music, or just relax and enjoy the nearby redwood trees. And on warm summer nights, with a string of lights hanging from the deck above, it is a nurturing venue where I can spend time simply letting my mind wander… and being grateful for the countless blessings in my life. I refer to this as my patio therapy. 

Bestselling author Sally Clarkson, wrote, “You have the power to create a small, life-giving world within your home.” Yes, we do.