Yeah, I'm not mindful.
I'm trying this 8-week course, and I can't even go one day with the exercises.
Challenges are hard, sure, but for some reason I'm not even interested the ones I pick myself.
I don't know what that says about me, but I'm sure it isn't good...
Monday, April 2, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Week 2 of Conscious Action
This is the beginning of week two of Mindful thought, relishing each moment and experiencing every second.
I am to meditate twice a day after reading the five page instruction, which automatically takes up all of the time I have to concentrate on myself in one day.
And I am to pick a new daily activity to focus upon during each second of it, like reading all of the instructions for meditation, maybe.
Also be aware that now is all we have; yesterday and tomorrow are memories and visions while we create the times we live. I am to count ten positive things in my life each day.
Okay.
Here I go. I'm off to meditate, but I would bet money I'll fall asleep. Shhh. Don't tell.
I am to meditate twice a day after reading the five page instruction, which automatically takes up all of the time I have to concentrate on myself in one day.
And I am to pick a new daily activity to focus upon during each second of it, like reading all of the instructions for meditation, maybe.
Also be aware that now is all we have; yesterday and tomorrow are memories and visions while we create the times we live. I am to count ten positive things in my life each day.
Okay.
Here I go. I'm off to meditate, but I would bet money I'll fall asleep. Shhh. Don't tell.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Mindful equals Semi-Conscious
In an attempt to be mindful, I find I am...not.
My experiment at being more conscious of the individual movements I make have made me increasingly aware that I am on auto-pilot, and I must say that's disturbing.
My mind is going ninety-to-nothing all day long and sometimes I'm not even sure what I've done and what I've left to do.
I'm not alone in this, obviously, or this book "Mindfulness" would not have been written.
And just Google the word! Thousands upon thousands of references pop up, indicating that the whole planet needs to settle in for the ride, enjoy the view, make a memory.
This first week has shown me just how difficult it is to do that very thing.
I shall persist!
Maybe next week I'll be semi-conscious for half the time instead of a quarter. That's progress, right?
My experiment at being more conscious of the individual movements I make have made me increasingly aware that I am on auto-pilot, and I must say that's disturbing.
My mind is going ninety-to-nothing all day long and sometimes I'm not even sure what I've done and what I've left to do.
I'm not alone in this, obviously, or this book "Mindfulness" would not have been written.
And just Google the word! Thousands upon thousands of references pop up, indicating that the whole planet needs to settle in for the ride, enjoy the view, make a memory.
This first week has shown me just how difficult it is to do that very thing.
I shall persist!
Maybe next week I'll be semi-conscious for half the time instead of a quarter. That's progress, right?
Friday, March 23, 2012
Mindful
I've read a lot of books about meditation lately. Namely for using it to notice the world and how you are an integral part of it.
Martha Beck writes extensively about Oneness and Wordlessness, practices of deep meditation, deep enough to be part of the cosmos fabric again for an instant or minutes on end, letting the conscious realm flow about you while you look on in wonder.
Now I'm reading Mindlessness, An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World, by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. I could be more mindful, I certainly could.
This week's practice is to be fully aware when doing a mundane daily ritual, such as brushing your teeth. Feel the brush, taste the paste, be conscious of the muscle movements.
Okay. I can do that.
And eat raisins or nuts thoughtfully and with attention.
I can do that too.
And also for six days this week, meditate on the whole body, part by part, incorporating it all in one mental space. If the brain wanders, as it will, let it go to it's place and acknowledge what it's thinking, then firmly pull it back to the task at hand, which is not thinking.
Okay.
I shall try all of this and report.
Martha Beck writes extensively about Oneness and Wordlessness, practices of deep meditation, deep enough to be part of the cosmos fabric again for an instant or minutes on end, letting the conscious realm flow about you while you look on in wonder.
Now I'm reading Mindlessness, An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World, by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. I could be more mindful, I certainly could.
This week's practice is to be fully aware when doing a mundane daily ritual, such as brushing your teeth. Feel the brush, taste the paste, be conscious of the muscle movements.
Okay. I can do that.
And eat raisins or nuts thoughtfully and with attention.
I can do that too.
And also for six days this week, meditate on the whole body, part by part, incorporating it all in one mental space. If the brain wanders, as it will, let it go to it's place and acknowledge what it's thinking, then firmly pull it back to the task at hand, which is not thinking.
Okay.
I shall try all of this and report.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Day 8: Vegan Challenge
I quit!
I declare the time of death for the 30-day vegan challenge to be ... 7:48pm on the 19th of March.
I love eggs and milk and cheese and don't want to quit them.
Especially since I got a new bag of Oreos. Nothing lactose-free goes quite so well with Oreos as good old cow's milk. Nothin'.
It seems that -etari- is a big part of the non-meat but not non-dairy world, and I'm fine with that.
Just fine.
I declare the time of death for the 30-day vegan challenge to be ... 7:48pm on the 19th of March.
I love eggs and milk and cheese and don't want to quit them.
Especially since I got a new bag of Oreos. Nothing lactose-free goes quite so well with Oreos as good old cow's milk. Nothin'.
It seems that -etari- is a big part of the non-meat but not non-dairy world, and I'm fine with that.
Just fine.
Day 7: vegan breakfasting
Today is about new breakfast ideas, with tempeh and other vegan "meats", and I'm preparing pancakes for my son. It's a just-add-water mix, but I'm sure it's cheating.
Of course, I probably won't eat any. I'm not really tempted.
Not really.
Really.
Well maybe a little tempted. It's the syrup that's my downfall. The pancake is just something to sop with.
Of course, I probably won't eat any. I'm not really tempted.
Not really.
Really.
Well maybe a little tempted. It's the syrup that's my downfall. The pancake is just something to sop with.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Day 6: take the time
Day 6 of the Vegan Challenge involves tackling the unfun part of cooking fresh. Chopping vegetables and readying to cook takes a while. But it's worth it. Cooking requires setup. Chopping is dull, planning ahead is dull, but it's worth the effort to eat healthy and stay healthy, because being sick requires more down time than anything. Plus it sucks.
Interesting too, because I've started reading a book called "Failing Sainthood" and part of her own personal challenge has been meditating while doing the little domestic crap we all hate to do. Preparing dinner can certainly be considered one of those menial tasks.
So read her book, too. I like her writing style. She's witty and compelling and real.
Interesting too, because I've started reading a book called "Failing Sainthood" and part of her own personal challenge has been meditating while doing the little domestic crap we all hate to do. Preparing dinner can certainly be considered one of those menial tasks.
So read her book, too. I like her writing style. She's witty and compelling and real.
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