Sometimes what we need to make it through the dark days is to realize our inner superhero.
We all have super powers.
We all have parts of ourselves that can spring forth and save the lost child within, rescue the raging mind from the wrath of the evildoers, carry the confusion across the rushing river to the clarity of the shore. But we must expand our creative vision of what it means to be a superhero or we might miss it!
My inner superhero? Mediocre Woman
My superhero’s tagline? Finding Inner Peace by Lowering My Standards.
I discovered her a number of years ago when I was weak and suffering from a bad back and had a physically demanding job. I called my boss, not sure what to do, and he said we should go ahead and work but that he would carry the really heavy bags and we could do our best to have a mediocre day and not get much done. I felt so loved and supported. Work would go forward, we would be mediocre, and all would be well! Thus Mediocre Woman was born.
I soon felt completely liberated by my new superhero. All the problems stemming from my high standards I had for myself and others and society could be reduced or resolved completely if I just lowered them.
Mediocre Woman was saving my world. She was getting less done, doing it worse than before, and feeling more relaxed and content than ever!
Last week I was feeling stressed out from moving,unpacking, starting a yoga teacher training, getting ready for a big trip, and neglecting All is Listening.
Last Tuesday was All is Listening‘s first BIRTHDAY! And I had such grand plans for celebration…but then what I really needed was to sleep, to go dig in the dirt, to not push myself, to go slowly, to LISTEN. So just when I was heading down the rabbit hole of despair Mediocre Woman came to the rescue, she reassured me that all would be well and the sky wouldn’t fall if I just ignored my blog’s birthday.
So I did. I neglected my blog and nurtured myself. I listened deep to the quiet and followed the inner call of what I needed as it unfolded in the moment.
Mediocre Woman connected me right to SOURCE. She saved me from separating from my truth in the name of holding up appearances, being on top of things, having high standards.
So I stayed under the covers and listened to the thunder, I turned over the garden beds, I planted peas, I cooked dinner, I did yoga, and I loved every stitch of my mediocre life in this mediocre minute.
Who’s your inner superhero? You are welcome to mine, she is available at a moment’s notice.
Belated birthday celebrations soon to come…or maybe it will take awhile yet?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
love love love the mediocre woman!!!
Thanks so much Janna,
How lovely to have you here on my blog! I hope you and your family are well.
I posted this on facebook and a few friends have “shared” it too… I’m going to spend some time identifying/getting to know all my superheros …. and by the way, Seb and I are celebrating 20 years together and Ava is 8 1/2 and a big joy in our life. I’m so grateful.
Mediocre Woman has a rich, gorgeous life, and a pace slow enough to feel it. She can also listen more deeply than Turbo Gal has time to. So lovely how you let us all off the hook by sharing her.
I thought of you and All-Is-Listening this week when I took the time to grieve the loss of my Grandma and cleared my calendar. Because all IS listening. Especially when you slow enough to hear. I was hearing so much during the subject of my latest blog post that I couldn’t help but think of you each step. In every serendipity you were there, echoing that All-Is-Listening; I was by myself but certainly not alone.
Big love,
Pema
Oh Pema, It is true Mediocre Woman has the space for listening and love that Turbo Girl rarely does. Then again sometimes we need Turbo Girl to get things done.
Your Grandma was lucky to have you. Good for you for clearing the space to grieve. We live in a dominant culture that doesn’t respect the need to grieve and therefore doesn’t realize the life and love and sadness and joy that can come from this.
Yea, Mediocre Woman. Defying the prevailing super wisdom of today in a single mound.
with infinite love from mediocre man, who merely does what he can, and enjoys the rest.
You are one of my favorite Mediocre Man Superheros, Tonio.
Hi Jasmine-
When we step toward being “mediocre” we step away from trying to be anyone, anything, anyway, and begin to see that all we really are is an amazing being, a unique expression of the infinite creator. We begin to understand that we are not a separate person, not a “me”. We begin to get out of the way of our own greatness.
Hope to see you one day!
x, marlene
Marlene,
I’m enormously moved by your comment.
When I wrote this post yesterday I wondered if it wasn’t making light of the true experience I was having over these last few days. An experience that is wordless and without identity, in which I was neither Mediocre Woman or anything else.
And I also recognize that one of the great gifts I’ve given myself over many years is moments of love and acceptance for myself as I am, for the moment as it is, and it is this letting go, giving up, and cherishing ‘mediocrity’ (as in REALITY) that seems to make the space for true understanding of my deepest nature. I want to give this gift to others as well.
I am very much looking forward to seeing you one day!
Jasmine
I love Mediocre Woman! Just take it all down a notch. I thought I was such a good multitasker until I had kids, and then it just felt like multicraziness. That didn’t stop me from trying to do it all, but I’ve felt pulled in too many directions for too many years. Mediocre Woman must have inhabited my body yesterday, when I played with my son all day, waited patiently for all his stops and starts, and didn’t give dinner preparations a thought until it was upon us. I can’t tell you how relieved every cell in my body felt to be in the moment. I don’t think there is anything mediocre about living with intention! Thank you for validating mediocrity!
I love this…”waited patiently for all his stops and starts, and didn’t give dinner preparations a thought until it was upon us.” What a lucky boy and lucky mom. The truth is, Mediocre Woman is also Self Love Woman and Present Moment Woman and Non Violence Woman. But all those other superhero’s might sound like more work and come with less of a sense of humor than Mediocre Woman.
Keep taking her inside!