How Do You Walk Through the Door?

Six months ago, I hadn't pondered the meaning of equanimity or it's significance in my daily life. As I navigate life's twists and turns, I'm learning to pay attention to the way I embrace moments. Sometimes I enjoy pleasant moments I wish would last forever and sometimes I face difficulties I'm not convinced I can bear. Equanimity invites me to notice how I greet each moment whatever it offers. The lightness and darkness of our human experience can be overwhelming, but can also be met with gentleness, compassion and acceptance. Sometimes this is easier said than done...

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

-Rumi-

 

Gratitude

"In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy."- Brother David Steindl-Rast

I've recently been turned onto the notion that we can choose happiness. At first, this seemed like a really strange concept to me. How can you choose happiness right? Well, I tried it the other day. I was in a grumpy mood from the moment I set foot out of bed. This dark cloud continued to follow me around as I arrived at school and began preparations in my classroom. Deciding that I wasn't going to let myself be hijacked by a foul mood, I practiced mindful breathing and set my intention for a positive day.

Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us to be appreciative of life and our ability to participate in it. We can be grateful for our sight, our capacity to move our body, our breath... No matter the external conditions, we can find peace and happiness within ourselves.

Honesty

It truly is the best policy. I can't think of a time in my life when honesty hasn't been the optimal way to go. As difficult as it can be, there's a freedom that comes with telling the truth. It helps me stay in touch with my authentic self and reassures me that I'll survive whatever the hardship may be. Sometimes we need to face the truth to heal. This has been the case for me.

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
-Buddha

Breathe

I'm evolving my mindful breathing practice. My intent for now is to sit quietly and focus on my breath for at least ten minutes each day. I'm not entirely there yet, but acknowledge that it's a process which develops over time and is definitely not as easy as it sounds.

Like many, I am challenged with the simple task of carving out the time. It's interesting how distracted we get with mindless tasks that fill our days while finding all kinds of reasons not to take five quiet minutes to connect with our breath. It's not always a pleasant experience which is another reason many of us tend to avoid it. Thoughts come and go, images come and go, and it requires a lot of patience with ourselves.

I'm going to continue developing my routine of mindful breathing. As I do, I feel connected to my body and am grateful for the hard work it does every day.

Express Yourself

Tell those you love that you love them.
There are never too many moments in which you can do this.

What Can You Do?

One definition of irony is an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.

Today I decided to get my car washed. Rather than clean it myself, it seemed easy enough to drive through a prepaid service station and have machines do it for me. I admit that I was partly motivated by the thrill I get while sitting inside the car as it gets covered with soap, when I can't see out the windows and it feels like the world could be falling apart and I'd never know... Anyway, I was really looking forward to my car feeling and looking clean again. So I chose the "Rainbow" package, dutifully paid my fee and joined the queue. After the wash is complete, you are instructed to proceed slowly under the powerful hanging dryers. A digital timer reminds you there are 60 seconds available for this final step. I carefully rolled through, kept my eye on the clock and hoped to dry my car completely. When my minute expired, I set off to the grocery store.

While I was shopping, a flock of birds pooped all over the roof and windows.

Isn't that ironic?

Authenticity

The wind is howling outside, Flynn is cuddled up with his stuffed animal on one of his many beds strewn throughout the house and I am home from school recovering from my latest bout of Strep throat. It is here, sitting at my dining room table, that I contemplate the subject of authenticity. How closely aligned am I or are you to your personal truth?

I believe one of the many reasons people bond so deeply with dogs is for this very quality of authenticity. The photo I'm including here is dear to my heart and embodies living in the moment! It isn't surprising that an abundance of authors have written books about the bonds they share with their dogs, and have written novels from the perspective of their canine companions. We all need reminders to be authentic from time to time and who better to deliver the message than our trusty pooches?

I watched a video blog this morning by Gabrielle Bernstein (http://gabbyb.tv/videos), a modern day teacher of mindfulness and self awareness. She brought up some simple signs to pay attention to when it comes to following your inner truth. For example, if you are behaving in a way that creates anxiety or guilt, there is a strong chance you've diverted from what you know to be right.

Despite all that we can intellectually comprehend about mindful practices, I find that staying connected throughout our daily behavior is where the rubber hits the road. We all have ideals of what we know to be true and good, however, there may be a disconnect between what we believe and how we behave. Authenticity is present when you're living out your beliefs in real time. Let us pay attention to our behavior today. Notice, without judgement, whether our actions align with what we know to be our truth.