Rethinking Me

Yesterday marked one week of consistent daily meditation for me. I usually sit in the morning just after waking. I’ve developed a routine where I wake up, put on an old hoodie to ward against the morning chill and lay out in a corner of my bathroom floor a folded afghan my grandmother made for me years ago.

I then set the timer on my phone for 15 minutes and do my best to let thoughts flow in and out of my mind. Some days I’m more successful at this practice than others.

This last Sunday I had two primary goals: to sit and meditate and to run a 5K distance. I did neither but still felt quite satisfied by the day’s end.

My sister-in-law suffers from pollen related allergies. She has to wear a mask anytime mows her yard. I had offered to mow for her this last weekend and wanted to get an early start. I rolled out of bed and immediately got dressed. After a nice weekend breakfast with my family, I loaded up the lawnmower and weed eater.

Shara’s yard isn’t large. I had the entire front and back mowed in less than an hour. During that hour I realized something. The regular walking in patterns of rows and squares allowed my mind to relax much as if I were at home sitting on my grandmother’s afghan. I was also getting a pretty good workout. My shoulders and forearms are still sore today.

When I finished with Shara’s yard, I offered to mow her neighbor’s as well. The neighbor’s husband has been away from home for awhile for work, and I figured her three kids kept her busy enough without her having to worry about the yard, too.

It felt good to help someone else out, but I also wanted to extend the thinking and workout time I had discovered.

It’s important for me to plan regular daily meditation and exercise, but life doesn’t always accommodate neat and regular scheduling. When my best laid plans get interrupted in the future, I’ll look around to see what opportunities exist for creative adjustments.

posted: 11 April 5
under: Movement, Rethinking