Rumi’s Reflections: Alison Wem’s Journal – Day 12

Everyone is overridden by

thoughts; that’s why

they have so much

heartache and sorrow.

Jalal al-Din Rumi

Having a strong intellect and the ability to reason things through is valued in society. Yet I observe the pressure the school system puts on our young people to ever obtain higher grades. I do wonder if we are robbing them of their childhood. It should be full of natural curiosity and discovery. Yet there is little time at school or perhaps at home to allow this to happen.

As a child, I enjoyed lovely days of ‘messing around in the garden or park’ looking at flowers, plants and insects, building camps and playing with water. Are children still able to regularly do this and come into bed tired and dirty?

My observation is our young people are taking into their adulthood the practice of always being busy and ‘doing’. We are not allowing ourselves to just ‘be’ – to enjoy the moment of a beautiful sky or sunset or the energy of a shower of rain falling on your face.

Simple pleasures ease the heart and bring us joy. They are available to all of us if you allow yourself to enjoy them.