Thursday. No breakfast today as I woke up a little late. Not late enough to miss my bus, just late enough that I had no time to eat. Not that I eat much breakfast anyway, but still. It was no big deal two hours ago, but now I'm at my desk and hungry. Still an hour to lunch.
I don't even have classes to distract me. My first two classes were canceled due to festival practice, and then the third period (right now) is free.
Did mindfulness meditation on the bus today instead of reading. Mindfulness is just that: being aware of everything going on. The five senses (a ringing phone, licking my lips, the shapely legs of the woman across the aisle, the humid air of the bus flavored by a subtle perfume just for a passing moment, blinking), the breath (in and out), and mental formations (not not thinking, but paying attention to the play of thoughts flashing across my mental screens). Paying attention, being in the moment. Living.
I also did a bit of gratitude meditation, in which one gives thanks for everything and anything that you can think of or see at the moment. [Gratitude for cellphones, even when they're annoying me, gratitude for a bus to take me to work, gratitude that I have a seat, gratitude for pretty women in short skirts, etc] I also did a little metta (lovingkindness) meditation when an ambulance went by. (May all beings be healthy, happy, and strong; may all beings be free of discontent and dissatisfaction, may all beings be free of suffering).
Usually I read on the bus going to work, but I often do mindfulness for part of or all of my time. I find it flavors my day in a subtle way: I'm more apt to smile and be centered throughout my day.
What are you doing right now? What are you really doing right now?
Good to see you blogging again! I got out of the habit of checking while you were in the US ... and not blogging.
ReplyDeleteWhat am I really doing right now? Coming off my coffee buzz and noticing my pay is STILL not in the bank. Then I remember where I am and it makes sense of a sort. ;)