Mindfulness

There is this concept in Buddhist philosophy called mindfulness. Basically, what you're endeavoring to do (or not endeavoring to do at all, as Buddhism goes) is live each moment fully, rather than dwell on the past or the future , what you need to do, etc.

For example, I'm sitting at my desk about to get into my daily worries and anxieties, and I just realized that I need to take a breath and experience everything around me. I stop what I'm doing, and listen. I hear my co-workers, whom I like. We might not have anything in common, but they're good people. I hear them talking or typing quietly at their desks, and I'm reminded that they are well and healthy, and that their existence at my job is comforting.

From there I move to my body, and the simple comforts I have at my disposal. My clothes fit well, I'm warm, I'm not particularly tired and I'm pretty alert this morning. These are all basic things, I know, but somehow when I stop and meditate on these things, I calm down and am able to take things one at a time.

It's not that I'm completely stressed out about anything. I just find myself getting caught up with things that shouldn't worry me so, and it's so much better to be calm. Better for the mind and body. And darn it, I'm worth it.

Ohmmmm......

Exactly What Do I Fear?

Boredom. Loneliness. Sudden demise of my person. These are some things that come to mind when I think about what I'm afraid of. All justifiable things, so I think if I compare the little fears to these somewhat major ones, I might be able to conquer them.

I think I'm afraid of the work involved in writing this novel. Or perhaps I just need to set a deadline, because that has been the number one motivator as far as completing anything. Of course, then I have to take the deadline seriously. . .

I think I better. I think music and I have had our time together and it's time to focus on something else. Not to say I'm done with being a musician, but why be one thing all the time? I suppose I already know that I have a lot of dimensions to my character. I always overlook that - it always takes someone else to point it out to me. Things are just too quiet right now and it's making me a little crazy. Heh. What else is new?

Hmm..this entry is getting a bit personal, but so be it.

I think it's time to accept what I've done and what more I can do in life. There will be other paths at some point, and I need to be observant so I don't miss them. Something always happens after these periods of inactivity and restlessness.

Something.