4 Jul, 2008
calm calves clear climbing colors exercise love meditation mental health peace stairs walking wash writing x365 zen
I tried meditation. A bunch of times. It helped, if for nothing else that for sitting sans computer in the quiet and kindness. But I couldn’t relax, couldn’t focus on meditating, focused on the noise I was making, the meditation I wasn’t doing, racing, racing thoughts.
I went for a one-on-one with the leader of the class, who suggested I try walking meditation. I liked the idea. But I didn’t try it.
A few months later, work launches a stairclimbing challenge. Simultaneously and separately, my sweetie and I decide to start walking on the paths behind his house or the city streets toward the Mall near mine. I am walking, more and more, beyond my walks to and from work.
And it is working. Beyond strong calves I feel calm coming in. Clear. Zen.
It is the most beautiful color of all.
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Note: Happy 4th to all!!! I have also added a few posts to X365.
4 Mar, 2008
friend love meditation
*B* tells me they’re having troubles. Baby-making troubles.
B, the friend who spread out a blanket with me in the wet bluegreen grass outside our dorm room so we could have a slumber party under the stars (while our suitemates went clubbing). B, who when I broached the unspeakable … “divorce”, asked me earnestly, warmly “so what if you do?” allowing me to be okay in the eyes of at least one human.
Other friends said my voice changed whenever I talked to B. We’d listen to jazz in the dark or eat cheese and grapes or go for snowy walks. We’d joke that it was too bad we weren’t attracted to women – marrying each other would be so much simpler. But in truth, I was glad we weren’t; asexually,we were able to love each other so much more – more purely, more authentically.
So when she writes me out of the blue that she is hurting and fearful and ashamed, I tell her what I know to be true: that God is not punishing her, that as she so often told me that God has a plan, for her precious gifts too.
And B, my pastor friend, spiritual counselor, doctor of theology, says thanks.
I tell her I wish I could have a baby for her, because I am just not sure I want a baby of my own, full as my heart is with love for my niece and the kids in my life; I’m just surprisingly not sure it is for me any more.
She says her acupuncturist gave her a CD called “open your heart to a new life”
“And,” says B “I realized I wasn’t sure I wanted to open my heart to a new life.”
I say I understand. I do. But I hope she can and does. She has so many gifts in that heart.