[Daily Om}: It could be argued that life is more
about the time spent waiting for something to happen than it is about
something happening. What this means is that the big events in our lives
are preceded by many days and nights of dreaming, planning, organizing,
and waiting. The times of waiting in between the big events actually
constitute the majority of our lives. These in-between times are
anything but uneventful. In fact, they are rich with possibility and
filled with opportunities for reflection and preparation. Like a
pregnant woman awaiting the birth of her child, we have a finite period
of time in which to prepare internally and externally for the upcoming
event that will define a new chapter in our lives.
When we find ourselves in an in-between time, we often can't help but
feel impatient for the impending event. We just want to get to the
future and have the new baby, the new job, or the new house. And yet,
there is a reason a pregnancy takes nine months to fulfill itself.
Nature provides the expectant parents with this time so that they can
prepare the nest. This preparation plays out on many levels. Materially,
a space must be created in the home and resources must be set aside for
the baby's future; psychologically, a shift must occur in which the
psyches of both parents agree to be responsible for a new life in the
world; and emotionally, the heart must open wider to embrace and fulfill
a new love.
Whenever you find yourself in such a time of waiting, you might want to
spend time exploring your material, psychological, and emotional
readiness. For example, if you are preparing to move to a new city, you
could make a list of things you'd like to do in the city you will be
leaving behind, and go to your favorite places and spend time with old
friends. This way, you will remain fully engaged in the present as you
await your future, savoring the in-between time as a vital experience in
itself.