R & R for Sunday, February 5th, 2012

R and R Tip 87:  Rid yourself of the old in order to relax 

Several days before their New Year celebration, many Chinese families give their home a thorough cleaning. They practice this tradition because it is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck.

Many cultures believe that sweeping each morning prepares the ground for the new day at the same time as it deepens  awareness of the importance of letting go of the past to welcome the present. It's not often that we sweep off our front steps but not a bad idea at all.  As we clear our steps, we create a space that feels clean, fresh, and open to all who enter. We could think welcoming thoughts as we sweep, reflecting on what is needed for the day. Making sweeping part of our daily ritual can tune us into the continuing cycle of releasing the old and welcoming the new that is the hallmark of a healthy life style.

This seemingly simple action has the power to clear away the old and make space for the new. It stirs up a feeling of freshness and energy.  This kind of sweeping is not about cleaning the area of dust. In fact, the broom doesn’t have to actually touch the ground to be effective. You might want to consider having two different brooms, one you use for cleaning dust and dirt, and one you use for starting each day as a new beginning. If you are so inspired, you could decorate your broom by carving its handle, painting it, decorating it with gemstones and ribbons, or any other creative adornment that appeals to you. You can also make your own broom out of tree branches and twigs, or choose a naturally appearing broom from nature, such as a pine bough. 

We don't want to sweep things under the rug...

We seem to always be in the process of sweeping up one mess or another...

A clean sweep makes the difference

Even if the only broom you own is an imaginary one,  sweeping away the dirt of yesterday and making way for a fresh start always leaves us with a good feeling and more times than not, when we feel good, we are relaxed.

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma