Only 24 Hours in a Day

I feel like the Hindu deity, Lakshmi, sometimes - a woman with so many roles and balls in the air.  With my trusty handwritten weekly to-do list, I approach each day knowing what needs to be done.  When I complete my list for the day, I feel as though I've won the lottery, but get so frustrated when I do not check off all the boxes.

Author, Mark Nepo expresses a similar everyday scenario.  We grab armloads of groceries out of our car, balance and waddle to the door.  We know we should just set down the bag so we can open the door, but our ego, pushes us to hold on to the bags and try to open the door.  Of course, we spill a bag, and get irritated.  Later, when we allow time to reflect, we know immediately what we should have done. 
 
It’s okay to set down a bag so we can move forward.  It’s only temporary.  It’s admitting we’re human not a deity like Lakshmi.  On the days I fail to complete my list, I’ve noticed there’s flexibility within the week to finish the task.  Sometimes I reevaluate if I even need to focus my energy on a particular task. 
 
Below is a meditation practice inspired by Mark Nepo.
 
Come to a comfortable seat or lie down.  Begin to picture yourself with armloads of bags.  Identify each bag with a responsibility or task you have.  With each of the following breaths, picture yourself lowering each bag to the ground one by one.  Notice the lightness and space you create within the body.  Use this moment to open your inner door.  With more awareness, determine which bag you should pick up first, and bring it inside.  Allow each breath to lift one bag or responsibility at a time.  Notice which ones you lift and which ones remain on the ground.
 
Make time for what matters to you.  Each day is a new beginning.  Happy New Year!