Archives for posts with tag: practicing the practices

Taking a Moment

January 30, 2020 //

It’s quiet this morning. The start to this day feels… muted. Not dull or in any way a failure to satisfy, it’s just… uncomplicated. Serene. Relaxed, but purposeful – and quiet. I sip my coffee… contentedly? Something short of satisfaction or enthusiasm, but far from discontent, sorrow, or ennui. I’m here. Present. Awake. Aware. Ready.

There is no need to chase something better, right now. This is entirely okay. Adequate. Sufficient. Enough. My coffee isn’t great, but it’s good. The weather is neither cold nor warm, and although it’s not raining, it probably will, later – and clearly has, during the night. I feel “between things” in a comfortable way.

I am considering a moment I shared with my Traveling Partner last night. Strangely emotional. Unexpectedly considerate, and aware. Honest. Almost tender… maybe a bit too honest to really be tender, though. It was very real. It was a moment of love, wearing its most honest face. I keep using that word. “Honest.” It is a quality of appreciate about us.

I remember my tears welling up; they were deeply felt, but not sorrowful. I give some thought to his frustration with my tears, and wonder if he understands that I really heard him, and so very much appreciate what he was saying – not just the words, but also the loving intent, and the tenderness implied by that. I feel cared for, and visible. I consider the words, the meaning, the intent. I consider the implications. I consider my self-care practices, and all the things in life I enjoy, that I sometimes needlessly defer because… well, why exactly? Isn’t that the point of our conversation, in the first place? To be sure to make a point to do the things in life I enjoy and want to do, and also embrace and enjoy love, within the context of this lovely partnership?

I smile and finish my coffee. The work day is only just beginning, and there is much to do. This is a good moment to begin again. 🙂

Tags be love, be the change, begin again, breathe, choose wisely, emotional self sufficiency, good self-care, listening deeply, love and lovers, mindfulness matters, p.s. I love you, perspective, practicing the practices, ptsd, relationships, sufficiency, TBI, The Art of Being, The Big 5, there are verbs involved, these are a few of my favorite things, we become what we practice, what matters most?

Categories Brain Injury, Free Will, gratitude, Healthy Living, Love, Mindfulness, Moments, Perspective, Post Traumatic Stress, Practices, Relationships, The Art of Being, The Big 5

Yet Another New Beginning

January 27, 2020 //

I woke smiling when the alarm went off. I got up and was through most of morning routine before I realized I’d forgotten to put on my glasses. Most especially hilarious, because without them I really can’t see much at all. lol Nonetheless, I contentedly went through the motions, showering, choosing clothes, dressing, making coffee… then noticed, when I was watching the pour-over process, and the dense brown foam on top of the grounds seemed… sort of fuzzy. I thought then to ask myself that important “why?” question, and realized I just hadn’t done this one specific small task I generally do, immediately upon waking, every day, since…oh… like… “always” (since I was about 8? 9? My near-sightedness was identified fairly late).

…I’m still having an excellent morning. 🙂 Enough is, as the definition suggests, enough.

I sip my coffee. Check my email and unsubscribe from some things I no longer read, or care to have clogging up my inbox. Have a quick look at the news. Write… nothing of great consequence, or momentum, just a few words on a page.

What a lovely weekend it was. My smile deepens. I think about love. I think about home cooking. I think about contentment and joy. I think about movies, and sharing them with my Traveling Partner. I think about how it is definitely the sharing that matters most, it’s less about the movies. Another smile, another sip of coffee. Another Monday. 🙂

A handful of healthy practices may not save the world, however much they have transformed this individual human experience of life. I’m still fuzzy on the “save the world” plan details, anyway. I’m sometimes not at all sure we actually can… but… I’ll take contentment over misery, any Monday it’s offered to me. It’s enough. I’ll work on what’s in front of me that needs my attention, and then, when the time comes (and it always does), I’ll begin again. 🙂 So far that’s been working out nicely, in general. 😀

…I glance at the time, and finish my coffee.

Tags any Monday, are you going my way?, be here now, be love, be the change, begin again, being and becoming, choose wisely, emotional self sufficiency, good self-care, mindfulness matters, perspective, practicing the practices, ptsd, sufficiency, taking care of me, TBI, The Art of Being, the map is not the world, there are verbs involved, walking my own path, we become what we practice, what matters most?

Categories Allegories, Brain Injury, Free Will, gratitude, Healthy Living, Metaphors, Mindfulness, Moments, Oregon Trails, Perspective, Post Traumatic Stress, Practices, Relationships, The Art of Being, winter

Silly Humans

January 26, 2020 //

It’s a quiet, relaxed, weekend. I’m enjoying it. There’s nothing much of consequence going on, and I’m okay with that. My walk yesterday tested me, and I hit some goals and unlocked a new level of achievements over the steep, hilly terrain. Today’s walk was level, paved, and at the end, rainy. Both were satisfying. Both provided new perspective, and things to ponder.

Consider what it means that it is necessary to put up a barrier to prevent people crossing this creek using this pipe.

I spent both walks smiling and thinking. They were not exactly “effortless” experiences, but more relaxed and easy feeling than walking had gotten to be. That’s comforting knowledge; I can still choose my path, still walk it, still make gains on my more out-of-reach goals. It’s not too late for incremental change over time. 🙂

If it’s this “easy”, how is it we need so much practice? How is it we are so… human??

So… I seek to choose my practices with care, even trying to eat healthier, exercise more generally, and making each moment count towards practicing to the be the human being I most want to be… it definitely requires practice. I’m okay with that; I become what I practice. (You do, too.)

What are you practicing? Is it time to begin again?

Tags be safe out there!, be the change, begin again, being and becoming, choose wisely, experience, finding ease through practice, good self-care, I am my own cartographer, I'm not resolved I'm just practicing, mindfulness for beginners, perspective, practicing caution and reading signs, practicing the practices, ptsd, sometimes the way is paved, sufficiency, TBI, The Art of Being, the map is not the world, there are verbs involved, walking my own path, warning signs, we become what we practice, what matters most?

Categories Allegories, Brain Injury, Free Will, Healthy Living, Metaphors, Mindfulness, Moments, Oregon Trails, Perspective, Post Traumatic Stress, Practices, solo hiking, The Art of Being, winter

Following a New Path

January 24, 2020 //

The commute this morning will be new. I’m driving in, thinking I’ve found affordable parking near the office. Win! The transit commute has been pretty grotesque this week. Disordered people, unkempt and un-cared-for, mingling with surly commuters, and homeless people staying out of the rain… on the train… it’s a poor mix. The train I was on last night reeked of piss from end to end, and felt unsafe. The night before? Worse. I’d rather deal with rush hour traffic in the evening. So, tonight I will. I’ll see how it goes. 🙂

I’ve tackled the walking piece of my commute, jeans and hiking boots all week. Today, back to business clothes and dress shoes, and hoping the parking is close enough to the office that my feet won’t hurt. 🙂 I feel comfortable, so far, with my clothing and my choices. Feels good.

The work week draws to a close, and seems ready to do so on a pleasant note. I don’t know what the weekend will hold, but I’m ready for it. 🙂 I’ve been sleeping better, and don’t feel so exhausted. I’ve even got a trail in mind for my Saturday morning walk that I am eager to try. I’m starting today feeling pretty positive, and relaxed. It’s a nice starting point to begin again. 😀

Tags are you going my way?, be here now, be the change, begin again, choose wisely, commuter challenges, emotional self sufficiency, Following a new path, good self-care, I am my own cartographer, mindfulness matters, perspective, practicing the practices, sufficiency, The Art of Being, the map is not the world, walking my own path, we become what we practice, what matters most?

Categories Allegories, Free Will, Healthy Living, Metaphors, Moments, Perspective, The Art of Being

A Change of Perspective Can Be Helpful

January 23, 2020 //

Sipping my coffee this morning, and giving thought to yesterday. A good day at work. A weird, fairly alarming commute home by light rail (lots of feral humans, acting out, it was a bit scary at times). I think about how productive I felt, in the new location. I think about how many colleagues were smiling, that I don’t recall seeing smile so much, before. The thought has me smiling, now. 🙂

…Sometimes a change of perspective makes a real difference. Walk a new path. Take a different approach. View things through a different lens. Ask new questions. Hell, just step from here, to over there, and take another look. Perspective can change how things look, so much. 🙂

I think about the weekend, and the fresh bit of trail walking I’ve been doing. Where to, next? I’m eager to tackle a certain “loop” I have in mind (it is not particularly loop shaped, it simply does not require me to double back to get home). It will test my renewed endurance, although it is approximately the same length as the longest walk I’ve recently taken, at 3 miles. Nonetheless, it has one daunting feature, due to the lay of the land; it is very hilly, with several steep bits that mock the hill in front of the house (well… one of the steep bits is the hill in front of the house). Am I up to it? Regardless which direction I start off in, I’m facing serious inclines, or declines, and throughout the walk, an assortment of both. lol I’m still excited to give it a try.

…No expectation of “easy”. I just have it in mind to take this lovely walk I’ve never taken before. 🙂 That’s enough.

I sip my coffee and think about walks, and paths, and journeys, and trails, and hikes… and realize I am ready, so ready, to begin again. 😀

Where does this path lead?

Tags a beginner's mind, another day another mile, be the change, begin again, choose wisely, emotional self sufficiency, experience, getting to goals, good self-care, I am my own cartographer, it's a metaphor, it's my journey, letting life be the teacher, meditation, mindfulness, one step at a time, perspective, practicing the practices, ptsd, solo hiking, sufficiency, TBI, The Art of Being, there are verbs involved, walking a mile in my own shoes, walking my own path, we become what we practice, what does it take?, where does this path lead?, where does your path lead?

Categories Allegories, Brain Injury, Free Will, gratitude, Healthy Living, inspiration, Metaphors, Mindfulness, Moments, Oregon Trails, Perspective, Post Traumatic Stress, Practices, solo hiking, The Art of Being, winter

Taking a Moment

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Yet Another New Beginning

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Silly Humans

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Following a New Path

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A Change of Perspective Can Be Helpful

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