lézardage

in our (in my opinion) overly productivity-oriented culture here in America, i discovered with great delight a word i can practice!

this word literally means "lizzarding", from the french, and can be conjugated as a verb.  it refers to the way lizzards find a place to sun themselves, usually on a rock or stone wall, in order to bask in the warmth.  this art has been practiced and perfected in Provence for centuries.

it's not at all about laziness, rather, this practice seems to me a crucial moment in the cultivation of letting go; seizing small moments of joy that beckon us to stop and trust that the world will go on spinning just fine without our constant control.  

i have been called "motion-efficient", that is very capable at multi-tasking and making every trip back and forth or motion count for a lot.  it makes for neatness, organization, a great work ethic, and lots of house-sitting requests, and it can also be exhausting!  

sometimes, when i have more to do than i can fathom accomplishing, instead of moving faster, i move slower.  and, in the place of grand vacations, i have learned the art of micro-basking:  picking fresh flowers for a vase, holding a second cup of coffee, taking a mindful bath, playing with clay.

i literally practiced lezardage yesterday by choosing a place in the sun where all five of my senses could relax:  watching koi fish, listening to the breeze, smelling garden flowers, tasting delicious food and wine, and feeling the warmth on my upturned face.

the list will never be done; it will perpetuate with dishes in the sink, emails unanswered, laundry, mowing, dog-walking, groceries, bill paying and all the stuff of life.  so why not turn our faces to the sun for a few moments, relax, and enjoy ourselves?