I read the quote by Thich Nhat Hanh last night. It made sense, brought me comfort, so I thought I’d try it.
This morning as I brought wood in from the shed, I paid attention to the piece of wood I was picking up. I noticed how it felt in my hand, I felt the texture of the bark and looked at the color of the wood. I thanked the tree it came from.
I did this with each piece of wood until I didn’t.
When did that happen? I have no idea, but I when I caught my mind wandering to some dark place I would bring it back to the wood.
“Brushing our teeth, cooking our breakfast, walking to the meditation hall-everything we do, every step, every breath should bring joy and happiness to us. Life is already full of suffering; we don’t need to create more.” Thich Nhat Hanh
So many people are truly suffering right now. I’m not one of them, not really. The suffering is only in my mind at this point in my life. I know there will be plenty of opportunities for me to be unhappy, to suffer in my life. That’s why I choose to be happy when I can be.
What I was practicing today was more mindfulness than joy I guess. But I’ve experienced how being mindful can lead to a sense of peace, if not joy.
Even in my studio today, I could only focus, stay present, for a potholder length of time.
But I did notice when I stopped to try and find joy in a breath, or threading my needle, that the corners of my mouth were turned slightly up.
It made me think, do my lips know something I don’t? Or is it like when I bellydance, as soon as I smile I become more relaxed and enjoy myself more.
I pray regularly, and one of the things I first ask for is that I will be able to focus, with my heart and mind in a reverent state, appropriate for worship. Sometimes that helps me concentrate on prayer and meditation. Otherwise it is very easy to get distracted by inconsequential things.
Carilee, I often think to myself that there are so many distractions and only one way to focus, but doing it. It seems like it should be simple, but….