Worldwide Stew

Entering Fall - and other Seasons

If it’s Tuesday, it’s Fall! With the conditions of the world (and, at least for me, money being a bit tight), I’m feeling some stress.

With new seasons, we’re always trying to make our way through (this seems even more true this year). Maybe you can identify with some of the ways I’m trying to make it through this season:

Here are some of my more recent seasons:

• Not fun seasons. For the past several months, I’ve been trying to figure out, what’s next? I keep trying to find some combination of things that I want to do that also provide a little bit of income.
• Better seasons. I’ve also tried my hands at some home repair tasks. I’ve got a better average there. I think I’m running about 75% completed repairs. That’s actually money in the bank.
• Still trying to dance seasons. Over the course of the last year and a half, I — who never exercised — have been doing Qigong, Tai Chi, and some HIIT exercises! I’m still figuring out how to move the arms with Tai Chi. But, I’ve discovered that there’s something about moving the body that feels pretty amazing. Even exquisite!
• Even with meditation, there are *good days and (some ->) bad days.* Let me rephrase that. There are days where I feel in the Zone and others where I don’t. In my Tai Chi, I can stand on one leg some days in that elegant bird posture for about 10 seconds on the right side but not on the left. Other days, I can’t. Going back to the meditation, I can feel completely out of the zone (whatever that subjective “zone” means) for all but the last five minutes. The first twenty minutes my mind is a mess. What’s for supper? Did I pay the water bill?Are there any good movies out? Should I wear a white hat to the soccer game where we’ll be out in the sun? It’s non-stop chatter in the old noggin. Then, for the remaining five minutes, it feels like my distraction all the sudden went away.

Are you experiencing any seasonal changes? What are they? Are you able to name them, if only to yourself?

Events and Programs

Opportunities

Mindfulness and mindfulness meditation

How much do I need to meditate to be mindful?

This question lies at a modern fallacy: How little can I do something to enjoy it’s benefits? We have become used to getting things for free and as a commodity.

Alas, mindfulness and meditation are inseparable. You have to meditate to be mindful. And, its not a superpower that comes with a purchase, in an app, or available without practice.

The power of silencing Notifications

During a meditation today, right when I was getting into my space of mental clarity, a notification came through.

It’s good online meeting etiquette to mute ourselves when we join meetings, unless you’re hosting the meeting.

But, we might also take the next step and turn off our notifications. If you’re on iOS (Apple) these are found under your Focus settings.

Don’t be like me. Avoid interruptions right when you get into the Zone. Show up for yourself with care. Turn off distractions and Notifications. They’ll be there later.

Just sitting there is not meditating

Just sitting there is not meditating.

I know. I’ve excused my sitting there countless times so I could cross off that day’s meditation. Our penchant for checking off items from our lists is fascinating. In reality, I could have been excused truly wanting to be with what was real and then whatever happened, happened.