Practice

Practice? What’s that?

Oh, you mean what I haven’t been doing at all in the last couple of weeks -- at least, not in a conscious sense!

Yes, it’s true, my life has been a bit unbalanced lately. From the excitement of meeting Dave, to traveling to L.A. and managing commitments such as the AIDS Walk and routines like the gym, I’ve had very little time. I haven’t been to the Zendo, and I haven’t been sitting.

I suppose I could be practicing with all these activities -- in fact, I suppose I am, on some level -- but I don’t feel as if I’ve kept much of a sense of mindfulness. In fact, I feel like I’ve been zooming along pretty quickly, whipping from one thing to the next.

I know I often say things like this. I like a real sense of slowness, spaciousness and openness, and I miss it when it’s not there. On the other hand, I’m really enjoying all that I’m doing, and an openness to changes in the structure of my life and my habits and routines is important, too.

Reminder to self: Do not envision a false separation between life and practice. It is all intertwined, after all. The same thing, even.

Fortunately, I have no plans for the Memorial Day weekend. So in addition to spending time with Dave, I hope to get back to the Zendo. And I’m about to go sit for a while this morning. Hopefully, I can renew a sense of mindfulness, of being with each busy moment!

(Photo: Oily puddle on a rainy day, April 2009)