Today, I’m thinking about what it means to be a good caretaker – a person who takes care of….
What?
Usually we think of material objects. Yes, indeed.
My husband and I were discussing the way we care for our humble house. As a child, I spent seven years living in a mobile home with my parents and older brother. My mother always kept the house immaculate, and taught me to do the same. I learned the important lesson of being a good caretaker of whatever I “own” no matter how small or simple it may seem to be. I put the word “own” in quotation marks because I don’t believe we actually own anything. Whatever we have in our lives is pure gift.
Our culture, of course, believes in private ownership of everything, but the reality is that we have been given things for a short amount of time (days, months, maybe years) – and given the opportunity to care for them to the very best of our ability. The monetary value of these items doesn’t matter in the least.
So, my practice is to be a good caretaker of my house, my car, my clothing. I’m sure this caretaking duty also applies to my place of employment, my family members, my pets, my own body/mind.
My body is my vehicle for moving through life in this world, so I aim to give it healthy food, rest, and exercise.
My mind is a gift which I always want to nurture with wholesome entertainment, study, and meditation.
The term “caretaker” even suggests a kind of emotional detachment. Basically, I “take care” of everything because it’s the proper thing to do. Not because I expect a reward or because I’m entitled to something or because I fear losing it.
From a spiritual perspective, I explain that I do everything as a service to God. Since God has given me everything I have in my life, I’m happy to be a good caretaker out of gratitude.
What does this caretaker topic bring up for you?
Holistic Yoga & Spiritual Guidance 