On the first full day of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington’s weeklong 2021 fall retreat, entitled Intimacy with Life, one of my favorite of all moments came during La Sarmiento’s dharma talk. They had been speaking about their love for walking meditation, and shared, “My vow in this lifetime is to have an open heart.” (They recommended having a dimmer switch rather than an on/off one, however. 🙂
I just want to share that I’m about to plunge into No-Spend February, not a very elegant title, but the 4th year in a row I’ve done this.
Strangely enough, it feels good.
All 5 stars!
The first half of my 2021 reading year was all about novels. The second half was (nearly) all memoir! I’ve always been drawn to listening to different voices and opening my heart to many, varied experiences. I hope you find some titles you’ll enjoy. 🙂
Ok, something crazy just happened. I turned 70!
And, to be clear, I’m celebrating. 🙂
If I mention that I’m old, or older, some of my younger friends are like, Don’t say that! Or—We have to have a conversation about this! I think these very dear friends mean that I’m not washed up, I’m still relevant, I’m still clever, or whatever “old” tends to imply, and especially that they want me to think well of myself. But—I do!
Jane
In meditation class this morning, there was a conversation about difficult, deeply held patterns installed during sometimes painful childhoods. People spoke of not being seen—especially by their mothers—of a longing that continues since that day, and how cultivating awareness helps. Being a witness, rather than being engulfed in the emotions, helps.
On a Wednesday in September, I woke up with excruciating pain in my right side which went on 24/7, unrelenting, for almost 3 weeks. Then… it got better. I still don’t know what was wrong. What I do know: it was a really great time to practice the path of the Dharma!
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