Hi Devon, thanks to you too - yes, just for existing.
Yup, I know a lot about forgetting to breathe! But...
we've been having a major, miserable kerfuffle at work this week, with me at the centre of it. I can't believe how calmly I've responded, and what a difference this has made - I don't think I've ever fully realised how much my tendency to easily get upset and react/over-react adds fuel to the fire. A major life lesson, it seems, at nearly 52 - better late than never! And a big thank you to everyone who has supported me in learning to pause and breathe.
Devon, I think one of the great gifts of meditation is that "memory" of the breath that carries over into everyday life situations. I forget too -- all the time - but when I do remember and can think of my breath, it really helps.
Jean - good for you!!! What a wonderful affirmation of your practice! And I do hope things at work straighten out soon.
Still here and sitting each morning. And adding my voice today, in a busy busy week, to thank everyone, as Devon says, for existing. Jean: wishing you the best in the work situation .....
Yes, Devon, I "forget to breathe" all the time! In fact, when I first started teaching, I used to literally run out of breath from nervousness, trying to cram *everything* I was saying into a single breathless sentence...
I don't do exactly *that* anymore...but yeah, my breathing gets shallow and "tight" when I'm stressed, which isn't a good place for an allergic asthmatic to be!
This morning I had a funny moment when letting Reggie out for his usual morning sniff & pee. My yard isn't fenced, so I have to stand & watch him "do his business" so he doesn't run away...and this morning I was grumbling to himself, "Hurry up, dumb dog, so I can go sit!"
Suddenly the absurdity of the moment hit me: hurry up so I can *sit*?!?
So I stopped my grumbling and started following my breath, doing my own standing meditation while Reggie did his sniffing meditation. All this time I've been thinking you had to *sit* to meditate...!
Lorianne, that made me chuckle. It's similar to the, 'Oh, fuck, now I'm stuck for how long? 20 minutes? Now what do I do?' If it's a bus or subway ride, or even standing having just missed the bus, why I can meditate! Even in a doctor's office I can put a magazine on my lap and begin a meditation with my eyes partly open and staring at the tip of my nose. Ok, it might look a little funny, but there are ways to use the time to meditate without looking weird.
Now I'm really laughing.
Hey, Jean, fabuloso!
Devon, just keep bringing that sweetness back to us... you help each one of us.
Leslee, good to hear the knee is slowly improving-
Hugs, everyone. And, who knows, I may wake suddenly at 2am and join you all, or at least dream that I am.
6 Comments:
Hi Devon, thanks to you too - yes, just for existing.
Yup, I know a lot about forgetting to breathe! But...
we've been having a major, miserable kerfuffle at work this week, with me at the centre of it. I can't believe how calmly I've responded, and what a difference this has made - I don't think I've ever fully realised how much my tendency to easily get upset and react/over-react adds fuel to the fire. A major life lesson, it seems, at nearly 52 - better late than never! And a big thank you to everyone who has supported me in learning to pause and breathe.
Devon, I think one of the great gifts of meditation is that "memory" of the breath that carries over into everyday life situations. I forget too -- all the time - but when I do remember and can think of my breath, it really helps.
Jean - good for you!!! What a wonderful affirmation of your practice! And I do hope things at work straighten out soon.
And Janice - good to hear from you (at the end of yesterday) and to know that your knee problem is improving. That's great!
Still here and sitting each morning. And adding my voice today, in a busy busy week, to thank everyone, as Devon says, for existing.
Jean: wishing you the best in the work situation .....
Yes, Devon, I "forget to breathe" all the time! In fact, when I first started teaching, I used to literally run out of breath from nervousness, trying to cram *everything* I was saying into a single breathless sentence...
I don't do exactly *that* anymore...but yeah, my breathing gets shallow and "tight" when I'm stressed, which isn't a good place for an allergic asthmatic to be!
This morning I had a funny moment when letting Reggie out for his usual morning sniff & pee. My yard isn't fenced, so I have to stand & watch him "do his business" so he doesn't run away...and this morning I was grumbling to himself, "Hurry up, dumb dog, so I can go sit!"
Suddenly the absurdity of the moment hit me: hurry up so I can *sit*?!?
So I stopped my grumbling and started following my breath, doing my own standing meditation while Reggie did his sniffing meditation. All this time I've been thinking you had to *sit* to meditate...!
Lorianne, that made me chuckle. It's similar to the, 'Oh, fuck, now I'm stuck for how long? 20 minutes? Now what do I do?' If it's a bus or subway ride, or even standing having just missed the bus, why I can meditate! Even in a doctor's office I can put a magazine on my lap and begin a meditation with my eyes partly open and staring at the tip of my nose. Ok, it might look a little funny, but there are ways to use the time to meditate without looking weird.
Now I'm really laughing.
Hey, Jean, fabuloso!
Devon, just keep bringing that sweetness back to us... you help each one of us.
Leslee, good to hear the knee is slowly improving-
Hugs, everyone. And, who knows, I may wake suddenly at 2am and join you all, or at least dream that I am.
xo
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