The wood floor under my feet was built in 1929 by an unknown carpenter. The nails are in uneven rows, each nail done by hand. The floors are well worn, and well-loved.
This morning I picked up the book On Looking – A Walker’s Guide to the Art of Observation by Alexandra Horowitz. She takes a walk around several blocks of her neighbourhood in NYC with 11 different people, to see the world through their lens. (eg. a child, a biologist, illustrator, dog etc…). Now the challenge to focus on one square foot of ground. Oh my!
Thank you so much for the question, and the thoughtful and fun answers. Such a treat to embrace the day! …
Nice! Thanks so much for your interest. … I am hoping to slow down enough this summer to take it one chapter at a time, and to get much better at observing along the way in more mindful moments. Such a challenge in our wee culture and time…
I have access to clean fresh water and bathroom facilities whenever I need or what them! I am breathing fresh air in a free country that has peace. I’m grateful for everything I have and that my environment is full of caring people who care.
What an interesting question…I enjoyed so much reading everyone’s reflections. Although I may not be answering this directly…here is what came to mind to share. For a few years now I have been offering a simple praryer each morning to start my meditations:
“Dearest Abba Father, thank you for this miracle of another day of life”. Recently I have added “here in this place that you have brought us”. We have been in our new home and surroundings for a year now.. A big change from where I spent the first 65 years of my life and it has been an adjustment, as most big changes are I suppose. An evolution of sorts. I am grateful for the awareness that this new and different ground beneath my feet is exactly where I am meant to be for such a time as this. Om Shanti friends ♥
It is good to read your post today, Diane. You give me hope that I will come to that evolution of feeling so at home, that feeling of belonging and “meant to be.” I think I am getting there, but also feel “miles to go before I sleep.” At least the woods and meadow behind my living space are welcoming and ever-changing. Blessings, my friend.
First, I take off my shoes and socks as direct contact with earth energy is extremely good for me. Of course, this attracts creepy crawlers as they have to check out my bare skin! I hope the ants are not hungry or are not the kind that bite. A bee comes to feed on a dandelion. I just learned this year that dandelions are food for the bees and now find it hard to dig them up. I discover that this is an exercise in mindful meditation!
The socks that I am wearing that make up all the clothing that I own. The sofa that I am lying on which makes feel lucky for having a home and fournishings. Noticing that no longer need a knee brace after 8 weeks from my meniscus tear which amazes me how my body can heal physically and reminds me that we can also heal mentally and emotionally,,
I will go outside and do this later this morning. If I’m in my yard I will likely be amazed (and frustrated) by the tenaciousness of false dandelion that keeps coming back no matter how many times I dig it out roots and all with my Grandpa’s Weed Puller. Then I’ll look past that to the other life that’s there. I will also marvel at what I can see and how clear everything is thanks to the cataract surgery I had 3 years ago, after many many years of being incredibly nearsighted. (Although in a way I do miss my very close-up vision that let me see things by getting my face right up next to them; that’s been part of my life since I was 5 and it vanished with the surgery that gave me 20/40 vision.)
If I am outside, standing on the ground, it would be life itself. Here where I sit, not such uplifting thoughts, more about the failings of the human race to re-awaken the commons into seeing the need to build a compassionate nation.. Yet inspired to evolve myself. To seek like minded. To enable myself to better my participation in that endeavor.
It took billions of years to go from the Big Bang to the wood that makes up the floor my feet are standing on. Through gradual increases in complexity and a slow evolutionary process, the amazing beauty of a tree ended up creating this wood!
That through your feet on this one square foot, we all can sense our being interconnected. In a meditation given by Jack Kornfield, he inspired the imaging of sensing the roots going down into the earth and branching out widely like the mushroom mesh finding and communicating with each other and the roots of trees and all other plants and living beings on earth being interwoven in fact. In meditation through our feet right wherever we are, we can become aware of it. Amazing!
Beautiful Ose. Thank you! Are you able to share the link of the JK meditation? That sounds like a beautiful mediation to connect with the earth under our feet. Would love if you are able to post that. With much gratitude, KC
Dear KC, this beautiful meditation is a gift and part of the currently almost finishing e-course here at Gratefulness.org, so if you would like to listen to it, it might be a way to ask the Gratefulness team here to send you the link, as I feel it is not me to do so, not being in charge. May be this meditation is available also in the net freely, but this I don´t know. But I am sure if you ask the team here, you will find out if they can possibly send you the link. Hope this helps.
Thanks so much. I will follow up with the gratefulness.org team. Will check online first before troubling them. It sounds lovely!
I was sorry to missed the e-course. Took it last year and loved it. I missed the deadline to sign up this year, so felt sad about that. It sounds like it was a beautiful, inspiring course. So good that it nurtured you …
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cute toesies
This made me smile and reminded me that I need (and I’m definitely due) for a Pedi:)
There is fulness . Inumerable forms, colors , shadows, moving things and animals which are a universe in itself.
How it changes – yet stays the same, depending on whether I get down real close or walk 20 (or more) steps away.
The wood floor under my feet was built in 1929 by an unknown carpenter. The nails are in uneven rows, each nail done by hand. The floors are well worn, and well-loved.
This morning I picked up the book On Looking – A Walker’s Guide to the Art of Observation by Alexandra Horowitz. She takes a walk around several blocks of her neighbourhood in NYC with 11 different people, to see the world through their lens. (eg. a child, a biologist, illustrator, dog etc…). Now the challenge to focus on one square foot of ground. Oh my!
Thank you so much for the question, and the thoughtful and fun answers. Such a treat to embrace the day! …
Thank you for the book recommendation. Putting it on my library list.
Nice! Thanks so much for your interest. … I am hoping to slow down enough this summer to take it one chapter at a time, and to get much better at observing along the way in more mindful moments. Such a challenge in our wee culture and time…
That book sounds really interesting. I just requested it from my library-thanks!
Nice 🙂 I hope it arrives and that it inspires in some way …
I have access to clean fresh water and bathroom facilities whenever I need or what them! I am breathing fresh air in a free country that has peace. I’m grateful for everything I have and that my environment is full of caring people who care.
What an interesting question…I enjoyed so much reading everyone’s reflections. Although I may not be answering this directly…here is what came to mind to share. For a few years now I have been offering a simple praryer each morning to start my meditations:
“Dearest Abba Father, thank you for this miracle of another day of life”. Recently I have added “here in this place that you have brought us”. We have been in our new home and surroundings for a year now.. A big change from where I spent the first 65 years of my life and it has been an adjustment, as most big changes are I suppose. An evolution of sorts. I am grateful for the awareness that this new and different ground beneath my feet is exactly where I am meant to be for such a time as this. Om Shanti friends ♥
It is good to read your post today, Diane. You give me hope that I will come to that evolution of feeling so at home, that feeling of belonging and “meant to be.” I think I am getting there, but also feel “miles to go before I sleep.” At least the woods and meadow behind my living space are welcoming and ever-changing. Blessings, my friend.
Abundant blessings to you as well this night my dear friend. I am ever grateful to be sharing this journey with you.
My 73-year=-old feet in comfortable shoes on the little handmade rug I treated myself to after my mother died–my magic carpet.
First, I take off my shoes and socks as direct contact with earth energy is extremely good for me. Of course, this attracts creepy crawlers as they have to check out my bare skin! I hope the ants are not hungry or are not the kind that bite. A bee comes to feed on a dandelion. I just learned this year that dandelions are food for the bees and now find it hard to dig them up. I discover that this is an exercise in mindful meditation!
The socks that I am wearing that make up all the clothing that I own. The sofa that I am lying on which makes feel lucky for having a home and fournishings. Noticing that no longer need a knee brace after 8 weeks from my meniscus tear which amazes me how my body can heal physically and reminds me that we can also heal mentally and emotionally,,
I will go outside and do this later this morning. If I’m in my yard I will likely be amazed (and frustrated) by the tenaciousness of false dandelion that keeps coming back no matter how many times I dig it out roots and all with my Grandpa’s Weed Puller. Then I’ll look past that to the other life that’s there. I will also marvel at what I can see and how clear everything is thanks to the cataract surgery I had 3 years ago, after many many years of being incredibly nearsighted. (Although in a way I do miss my very close-up vision that let me see things by getting my face right up next to them; that’s been part of my life since I was 5 and it vanished with the surgery that gave me 20/40 vision.)
One of the things I think about when I pay attention to the earth beneath me is how amazing soil really is and how long it takes for it to develop. I hadn’t thought much about this until reading a piece by the wonderful writer Antonia Malchik https://antonia.substack.com/p/on-consideration-of-dirt?s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web.
This question reminded me of this piece on really zooming in to examine just one inch: https://carrienewcomer.substack.com/p/take-a-closer-look-one-inch-photos?s=r.
Thanks Barb. Wonderful articles and inspiration! …
If I am outside, standing on the ground, it would be life itself. Here where I sit, not such uplifting thoughts, more about the failings of the human race to re-awaken the commons into seeing the need to build a compassionate nation.. Yet inspired to evolve myself. To seek like minded. To enable myself to better my participation in that endeavor.
It took billions of years to go from the Big Bang to the wood that makes up the floor my feet are standing on. Through gradual increases in complexity and a slow evolutionary process, the amazing beauty of a tree ended up creating this wood!
That through your feet on this one square foot, we all can sense our being interconnected. In a meditation given by Jack Kornfield, he inspired the imaging of sensing the roots going down into the earth and branching out widely like the mushroom mesh finding and communicating with each other and the roots of trees and all other plants and living beings on earth being interwoven in fact. In meditation through our feet right wherever we are, we can become aware of it. Amazing!
Beautiful Ose. Thank you! Are you able to share the link of the JK meditation? That sounds like a beautiful mediation to connect with the earth under our feet. Would love if you are able to post that. With much gratitude, KC
Dear KC, this beautiful meditation is a gift and part of the currently almost finishing e-course here at Gratefulness.org, so if you would like to listen to it, it might be a way to ask the Gratefulness team here to send you the link, as I feel it is not me to do so, not being in charge. May be this meditation is available also in the net freely, but this I don´t know. But I am sure if you ask the team here, you will find out if they can possibly send you the link. Hope this helps.
Hi Ose,
Thanks so much. I will follow up with the gratefulness.org team. Will check online first before troubling them. It sounds lovely!
I was sorry to missed the e-course. Took it last year and loved it. I missed the deadline to sign up this year, so felt sad about that. It sounds like it was a beautiful, inspiring course. So good that it nurtured you …
Warmly,
KC
My feet. And they move! The intricate and beautiful wood grain patterns in the floor. No two alike. Stunning!
My feet. Old. Well used. They have supported me my whole 73 and three quarter years and are still going strong. I am very grateful for them.