Awareness of my current state, helps me to be more
present. Trying to be an observer of my own thoughts and emotions and habits, can be helpful.
And very importantly, the desire to be present.
I face the unknown,
as does everyone else in the world,
each morning I open my eyes.
Anything could happen . . .
a person
could fall down the steps
going to make their coffee,
a wife
could ask for a divorce,
a husband might be fired from his job,
the dog
might be sick,
or a child
might perish in his crib
A sunflower
might bloom,
a rabbit
might get into the garden
and have a delicious breakfast of carrots and greens,
a baby bird
might fly from the nest,
new weeds
could be given a second chance
from last night’s rain.
I watch the cats quite a lot,
and I notice that they simply wait patiently,
breathe,
and be.
They expect and hope
but are willing to be present
to what is . . .
I like that,
and try to follow their example.
In their other-worldy wisdom
it seems to work for them,
and I believe
that it works for me too. ♥
A couple of dark clouds of the southwest monsoon flow parked over the place today, dear Sparrow. The first one dumped 0.75 inch in 15 minutes. The second left 0.25 inch after a 30 minute rain. 1 inch so far today. The dry ground rejoices. The beings that rely on forage to eat rejoice. This pattern of weather is currently the same for the next 7 days. I was pondering during the first rain, watching from inside the garage, that water is the only world traveler that has never needed paper work or a passport to travel. Always in motion. It sure would be nice if that rain could speak of where it evaporated from, to join the clouds and nourish the San Luis Valley. Agua es vida.
The very fact that *that* I don’t know helps me stay present. What am I going to do, jump into a projection and gnaw my fingernails to the quick in anticipation of the future of my imaginings? Not a great alternative. I don’t know, so I might as well stay here, present, now.
I’ve learned that I can make plans but I cannot guarantee results.
If I’m not now here, I’m no where because I’m in my head stewing!
The practice of mindfulness helps me stay present.
What can I do right Now?
I share a meditation from my 2021 journal.
Morning Med June 11 2021 Now Here or No Where
Good Morning, As the character, Colonel Potter, said to his soldiers missing home on a Christmas episode of MASH, “If you ain’t where you’re at, you’re no where!”
Hours fly,
Flowers die:
New days,
New ways:
Pass by!
Love stays.
☙
Time is
Too Slow for those who Wait,
Too Swift for those who Fear,
Too Long for those who Grieve,
Too Short for those who Rejoice;
But for those who Love,
Time is not.
Henry Van Dyke, American author, educator, diplomat, and clergyman. 1852-1933
“Katrina’s Sun-Dial,” Music and Other Poems, 1904
Your poem,
‘Time is…’
is one of my favorites,
dear Carol Ann . . .
was put to music by “It’s A Beautiful Day”.
It never fails to lift me up.
I also
find truth
in your statement
that you can make plans,
but not guarantee results.
Thank you for both. ♥
The Divine in me
bows to the Divine in you.
I’m currently in a learning program called Essential Capacities that builds from understanding one’s own responses rooted in the autonomic nervous system and other forces such as our culture and family, to group psychodynamics and honoring each individual, to working effectively for change aimed at shifting to a sustainable long-term future. It’s a lot of learning and practice and I recommend it if this description interests you (https://www.context.org/; there’s a fee; next cohort signing up now, deadline in August).
I’ve long thought of the breath as what helps me stay present. One of the practices learned from the program is doing an all-over check of the body. Where am I feeling clenched? Is my heart pounding fast? Is my breath shallow and fast, or deep and relaxed? The breath is definitely a tool, as something we must do and also something we can consciously control, making it rare in the body’s systems. That first step of paying attention to my whole self is centering even before I begin to calm the breath. The program describes how to recognize whether you’re in your optimal zone or your defensive zone, so you can take a beat to realize you’re likely to react accordingly.
The mental approach that helps me in the face of the unknown, or something I already know is going to be bad, is to remember that this too shall pass. I’ve gotten through many unknowns over the years and I’m still here, carrying the lessons I took from each thing that happened that I dealt with. Years later, many of those unknowns are forgotten, whatever sting they carried long gone in the totality of my life experiences. Whatever it is, that unknown, I’ll adapt.
I recently started going to a class at a hatha studio. One of the things she says every so often is “Let go of whatever you’re holding that you don’t need to hold, that extra clench.” Good life advice!
I have family. They’ve gotten me involved and found areas with AC to keep me cool in the Japanese heat. Kioto is scortching hot with temps in the upper 90s daily. As long as I have food and family on the Japanese trip, my needs are met.
As so many of you have said, the breath can help me hold steady. Stop. Look. Go. comes to mind as well. I have come to understand that sometimes Go means staying with what is for a bit. Usually a path presents itself.
I don’t think anything outside is really “known”; or in other words, guaranteed. I make plans, I do my practice, and things can go as intended or otherwise. The only thing I control is remaining connected to the Center. I’ve shared my mantra, “unrelenting gratefulness.” I endeavor to stay aware of the Divinty within reagrdless of what is happening outside. As several others have said, the breath. The communities of Truth I frequent also bring me into my Self.
When my mind begins to wander from the present, bring it back to the breath. Open awareness to my sensory perceptions, observe the world and its beings, without naming, labeling. Not conceptualizing, just being.
Peace, Love & Light.
To stay present during times of being faced with unknowns, I pause, and return to the simple task of breathing in and breathing out. Letting my diaphragm and belly fill deep and slowly, then exhale fully. I am here now, fully alive. (I lift in prayer our First Nations communities in Canada, who are loosing their long standing generational homes, belongings, and pristine lands from the raging fires up North.) Creator may resources be sent. Peace to all.🌻🇨🇦
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Awareness of my current state, helps me to be more
present. Trying to be an observer of my own thoughts and emotions and habits, can be helpful.
And very importantly, the desire to be present.
My faith helps me stay present. The unknown will forever bring changes but I have faith that all will be ok with the Lord by my side.
Totally agree, Robin. We just need to surrender to his will. His plans are always greater than ours.
I face the unknown,
as does everyone else in the world,
each morning I open my eyes.
Anything could happen . . .
a person
could fall down the steps
going to make their coffee,
a wife
could ask for a divorce,
a husband might be fired from his job,
the dog
might be sick,
or a child
might perish in his crib
A sunflower
might bloom,
a rabbit
might get into the garden
and have a delicious breakfast of carrots and greens,
a baby bird
might fly from the nest,
new weeds
could be given a second chance
from last night’s rain.
I watch the cats quite a lot,
and I notice that they simply wait patiently,
breathe,
and be.
They expect and hope
but are willing to be present
to what is . . .
I like that,
and try to follow their example.
In their other-worldy wisdom
it seems to work for them,
and I believe
that it works for me too. ♥
A couple of dark clouds of the southwest monsoon flow parked over the place today, dear Sparrow. The first one dumped 0.75 inch in 15 minutes. The second left 0.25 inch after a 30 minute rain. 1 inch so far today. The dry ground rejoices. The beings that rely on forage to eat rejoice. This pattern of weather is currently the same for the next 7 days. I was pondering during the first rain, watching from inside the garage, that water is the only world traveler that has never needed paper work or a passport to travel. Always in motion. It sure would be nice if that rain could speak of where it evaporated from, to join the clouds and nourish the San Luis Valley. Agua es vida.
That’s wonderful,
dear Joseph!
The new rain dance I’ e been working on
must be doing its job.
May all creatures
rejoice! 🙂
😊🌞
Cats are very good at being patient. And they’re beautiful to watch.
In a weird way my fear because I become stationary, face forward to whatever is ahead.
Utilizing my breath and letting go of any expectations.
The very fact that *that* I don’t know helps me stay present. What am I going to do, jump into a projection and gnaw my fingernails to the quick in anticipation of the future of my imaginings? Not a great alternative. I don’t know, so I might as well stay here, present, now.
Drea, you just described what my father would call a Nervous Nellie!
Ha, it’s true isn’t it? Been that Nellie in the past for sure.
Good choice,
dear Drea . . . 🙂
I’ve learned that I can make plans but I cannot guarantee results.
If I’m not now here, I’m no where because I’m in my head stewing!
The practice of mindfulness helps me stay present.
What can I do right Now?
I share a meditation from my 2021 journal.
Morning Med June 11 2021 Now Here or No Where
Good Morning, As the character, Colonel Potter, said to his soldiers missing home on a Christmas episode of MASH, “If you ain’t where you’re at, you’re no where!”
Hours fly,
Flowers die:
New days,
New ways:
Pass by!
Love stays.
☙
Time is
Too Slow for those who Wait,
Too Swift for those who Fear,
Too Long for those who Grieve,
Too Short for those who Rejoice;
But for those who Love,
Time is not.
Henry Van Dyke, American author, educator, diplomat, and clergyman. 1852-1933
“Katrina’s Sun-Dial,” Music and Other Poems, 1904
Your poem,
‘Time is…’
is one of my favorites,
dear Carol Ann . . .
was put to music by “It’s A Beautiful Day”.
It never fails to lift me up.
I also
find truth
in your statement
that you can make plans,
but not guarantee results.
Thank you for both. ♥
The Divine in me
bows to the Divine in you.
Thank you for this poem, Carol, it’s beautiful and true.
I’m currently in a learning program called Essential Capacities that builds from understanding one’s own responses rooted in the autonomic nervous system and other forces such as our culture and family, to group psychodynamics and honoring each individual, to working effectively for change aimed at shifting to a sustainable long-term future. It’s a lot of learning and practice and I recommend it if this description interests you (https://www.context.org/; there’s a fee; next cohort signing up now, deadline in August).
I’ve long thought of the breath as what helps me stay present. One of the practices learned from the program is doing an all-over check of the body. Where am I feeling clenched? Is my heart pounding fast? Is my breath shallow and fast, or deep and relaxed? The breath is definitely a tool, as something we must do and also something we can consciously control, making it rare in the body’s systems. That first step of paying attention to my whole self is centering even before I begin to calm the breath. The program describes how to recognize whether you’re in your optimal zone or your defensive zone, so you can take a beat to realize you’re likely to react accordingly.
The mental approach that helps me in the face of the unknown, or something I already know is going to be bad, is to remember that this too shall pass. I’ve gotten through many unknowns over the years and I’m still here, carrying the lessons I took from each thing that happened that I dealt with. Years later, many of those unknowns are forgotten, whatever sting they carried long gone in the totality of my life experiences. Whatever it is, that unknown, I’ll adapt.
Sounds similar to a guided, body scan, meditation. Discovering the clenches and what feelings may have stashed them there.
And yoga practice with a good instructor helps you notice your whole body too and areas to work on to release tension.
I recently started going to a class at a hatha studio. One of the things she says every so often is “Let go of whatever you’re holding that you don’t need to hold, that extra clench.” Good life advice!
This too,
shall pass,
dear Barb . . . ♥
Thanks so much, Barb. So helpful.
Breathing and the needs of my dog.
I have family. They’ve gotten me involved and found areas with AC to keep me cool in the Japanese heat. Kioto is scortching hot with temps in the upper 90s daily. As long as I have food and family on the Japanese trip, my needs are met.
As so many of you have said, the breath can help me hold steady. Stop. Look. Go. comes to mind as well. I have come to understand that sometimes Go means staying with what is for a bit. Usually a path presents itself.
I don’t think anything outside is really “known”; or in other words, guaranteed. I make plans, I do my practice, and things can go as intended or otherwise. The only thing I control is remaining connected to the Center. I’ve shared my mantra, “unrelenting gratefulness.” I endeavor to stay aware of the Divinty within reagrdless of what is happening outside. As several others have said, the breath. The communities of Truth I frequent also bring me into my Self.
Love this!
Focusing on the breath always helps with returning to the present.
When my mind begins to wander from the present, bring it back to the breath. Open awareness to my sensory perceptions, observe the world and its beings, without naming, labeling. Not conceptualizing, just being.
Peace, Love & Light.
‘Just being’
is my go to place,
dear Joseph,
and Like Carol Ann,
I need this reminder today. ♥
(could have used it yesterday too) 🙂
Joseph, I needed this today. My mind wants to label a current situation!
To stay present during times of being faced with unknowns, I pause, and return to the simple task of breathing in and breathing out. Letting my diaphragm and belly fill deep and slowly, then exhale fully. I am here now, fully alive. (I lift in prayer our First Nations communities in Canada, who are loosing their long standing generational homes, belongings, and pristine lands from the raging fires up North.) Creator may resources be sent. Peace to all.🌻🇨🇦
🙏
The Colville Confederated Tribes in Washington state are also losing so much. I live in Washington and know a couple of people who are tribal members.
National borders don’t mean anything to the forces of nature, nor should they. We are one world.
So true, Barb. Reminds me of John Lennon’s song “Imagine.”