“There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.” ~ Maya Angelou
(I know, I've been on a Maya Angelou kick lately) Do you ever feel like there is so much in life you want to experience it's overwhelming? There just isn't enough time to squeeze everything into one day. It's great to appreciate all the opportunities we are fortunate to have in life, but I love this quote because it reminds me life isn't about cramming it all in just because I can. Life is more than a race to accumulate as many experiences as we can, because that fine line is loving AND savoring life. When we are constantly reaching for more, are we able to actually assimilate and savor what's happening now? I would argue, no, not really. On the flip side, if we savor a little too long and hoard our experiences we are limiting our ability to have the space and perspective to truly be present with new experiences. We have to be able to let go and make room for the moment to love where we are now.
In the world of Ayurveda when Pitta dosha is overabundant it can effect the mind, driving us to continually (and aggressively) seek material prosperity, and eventually we run the risk of burn-out. Pitta is associated with the fire element, so these summer heat waves could be pushing your buttons and making your more aggressive and irritable than usual. Try taking a cool bath with rose water or sipping on cucumber water to stay balanced when your fire is up to prevent burn-out and switch gears to savoring life.
On the other end of the spectrum overabundant Kapha dosha can lead to a stagnant mind and the desire to hold on for dear life. Kapha is associated with earth and water elements and just like earth and water the unhealthy attachments formed by imbalanced Kapha are heavy and weight us down. Kapha is aggravated by cold wet weather, so actually the heat of summer is stimulating for Kapha, but if you find yourself in a rut and unable to let go of the past and open yourself up fully to enjoying the present, it may be time to shake things up a little. Rearrange the furniture in your home or lighten your load by donating items you no longer have use for to people who can them. Letting go of tangible belongings or habitual ways of perceiving our surroundings helps us to let go in all areas of our lives, making room to love life in a way that isn't possessive of it.
What do you love in your life RIGHT NOW? Do you need more than that in this moment? Can you let it go?