A Horse Happily Humbled Me
On a Sunday, while visiting my friend Laura, on her farm, she asked me if I wanted to ride one of their horses. The last time I had this experience I was a teen and recalled it being both exhilarating and exhausting. I was assigned to Willy: a large, 16 year-old. I got to know him a little in the process of grooming with various brushes and thought - this is a noble animal! I was impressed at his incredible musculature. The patience and tolerance exhibited by this +-1500 lb. being- allowing me to put things in his mouth and around his neck! I forgot to ask his height ("hands") but I had to use a stand and later a fence for mounting. Willy's grace in the field was only amiss once- when he stepped on my foot! This in itself was humbling as well and a vivid reminder of the mass and power of this fellow creature of Earth. After the cool down procedures, the treats of carrots and an apple served as an unspoken "Thanks" to Willy. I drove home that afternoon feeling very serene. It seems clear we humans are but a small part of the whole of nature- welcome if we are respectful.
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Patience is Zen; Forgiving is Taoist
Allowing things to run their course, others to do their thing can bring inner peace. Nodding to affirm we are listening and present, without responding can even result in unpleasant situations being shorter in duration. Closing our eyes, using other senses may provide solace when we have a long wait. Even when time seems to stand still, reflection can be it's own reward. Restraint actually strengthens our resolve.
Everyone has a dark side- to love someone or be a friend means accepting this. A balance over time occurs in all but the worst sociopaths. Perhaps nurturing the good in others is a way to bridge the current political divide. Fostering humanness and forgiving ignorance could bring some folks back from the angry edge. The courage to be vulnerable by being humble might allow us to lay down our arms. We can let our loving selves see the innocent side of those we might otherwise damn or disregard.
Allowing things to run their course, others to do their thing can bring inner peace. Nodding to affirm we are listening and present, without responding can even result in unpleasant situations being shorter in duration. Closing our eyes, using other senses may provide solace when we have a long wait. Even when time seems to stand still, reflection can be it's own reward. Restraint actually strengthens our resolve.
Everyone has a dark side- to love someone or be a friend means accepting this. A balance over time occurs in all but the worst sociopaths. Perhaps nurturing the good in others is a way to bridge the current political divide. Fostering humanness and forgiving ignorance could bring some folks back from the angry edge. The courage to be vulnerable by being humble might allow us to lay down our arms. We can let our loving selves see the innocent side of those we might otherwise damn or disregard.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Cellphones: Unintended Consequences
Having a phone, computer and camera in your pocket is amazing, no doubt. How has this phenomena impacted our lives inadvertently? Some folks constantly carry their phone in their dominant hand and juggle everything else. Others wear ear or neck devices like jewelry to stay ever-ready for the latest call or notification. Ironically, there are people who will only answer their phones directly if you text them first! Any travel requires a cord/plug to keep "precious" charged up. I read that an audience member walked onto a Broadway stage in progress and tried to plug a phone into a fake set outlet! In the past in mental health waiting rooms, we worried about clients picking each other up- no more- they are staring at their phones- perhaps on Tinder. What I call "un-mindfulness" occurs in classes, conferences, parks and family dinners as people play games or go on social media to be anywhere but in the moment their physical selves inhabit. When I see drivers drifting out of their lane now, they are usually on a call rather than drunk. Are folks using less substances due to these outgrowths? I wish! The possible health risks of holding it to your head all day and enormous financial costs compared to simple landlines were not anticipated by consumers. I just hope we all reflect on how we use them, as well as occasionally unplugging to reconnect with ourselves.
Having a phone, computer and camera in your pocket is amazing, no doubt. How has this phenomena impacted our lives inadvertently? Some folks constantly carry their phone in their dominant hand and juggle everything else. Others wear ear or neck devices like jewelry to stay ever-ready for the latest call or notification. Ironically, there are people who will only answer their phones directly if you text them first! Any travel requires a cord/plug to keep "precious" charged up. I read that an audience member walked onto a Broadway stage in progress and tried to plug a phone into a fake set outlet! In the past in mental health waiting rooms, we worried about clients picking each other up- no more- they are staring at their phones- perhaps on Tinder. What I call "un-mindfulness" occurs in classes, conferences, parks and family dinners as people play games or go on social media to be anywhere but in the moment their physical selves inhabit. When I see drivers drifting out of their lane now, they are usually on a call rather than drunk. Are folks using less substances due to these outgrowths? I wish! The possible health risks of holding it to your head all day and enormous financial costs compared to simple landlines were not anticipated by consumers. I just hope we all reflect on how we use them, as well as occasionally unplugging to reconnect with ourselves.
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