October 2007 ~ Harvest
As I was thinking about what to jot about this month, I kept getting the word “harvest.” This led me to remembering a man by the name of Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. I met the good rabbi through his book “From Age-ing to Sage-ing” several years ago when I was invited to offer a workshop on “eldering.” I connect him with the word “harvest” because of the particular way he uses the word in his book.
He says, “By harvesting, I mean gathering in the fruits of a lifetime’s experience and enjoying them … When we harvest, we consciously recognize and celebrate the contributions we have made in our career and family life. We also appreciate the friendships we have nurtured … Harvesting can be experienced from within as quiet self-appreciation or from without through the honor, respect, and recognition received from others …”
Working with this concept personally has made me aware that “harvesting the past” is not just for people who are “really old!” Everyone has a past, be it long or short, and looking at the past with regret seems to come naturally to us sooner, rather than later. Dealing with the past is the livelihood of therapists and counselors and the work of any of us who seek to live in the present.
Some of us may have grown up in a culture that frowned on “self appreciation,” calling it “pride” or even “sin.” However, sound psychology teaches us to acknowledge our pluses as well as our minuses. Often we are reminded to “see the good” in those things we regret. This is another way to understand “harvesting.” Seeing the good in those things we are happy about is also important in our overall mental/emotional/spiritual health. Again, we remember that Jesus taught a way of loving others that is based on loving ourselves.
Harvesting a lifetime may seem like a large task to those of us who have accumulated a significant length of “lifetime.” But, like everything else, it’s one day at a time! Taking a few minutes at the end of each day to identify three things that we are grateful for is a good way to begin.
jbm
He says, “By harvesting, I mean gathering in the fruits of a lifetime’s experience and enjoying them … When we harvest, we consciously recognize and celebrate the contributions we have made in our career and family life. We also appreciate the friendships we have nurtured … Harvesting can be experienced from within as quiet self-appreciation or from without through the honor, respect, and recognition received from others …”
Working with this concept personally has made me aware that “harvesting the past” is not just for people who are “really old!” Everyone has a past, be it long or short, and looking at the past with regret seems to come naturally to us sooner, rather than later. Dealing with the past is the livelihood of therapists and counselors and the work of any of us who seek to live in the present.
Some of us may have grown up in a culture that frowned on “self appreciation,” calling it “pride” or even “sin.” However, sound psychology teaches us to acknowledge our pluses as well as our minuses. Often we are reminded to “see the good” in those things we regret. This is another way to understand “harvesting.” Seeing the good in those things we are happy about is also important in our overall mental/emotional/spiritual health. Again, we remember that Jesus taught a way of loving others that is based on loving ourselves.
Harvesting a lifetime may seem like a large task to those of us who have accumulated a significant length of “lifetime.” But, like everything else, it’s one day at a time! Taking a few minutes at the end of each day to identify three things that we are grateful for is a good way to begin.
jbm
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