Work is frantically busy right now, including some tedious data collection. It's a good chance to work on mindfullness, though. Always good when challenges to being present arise. I do have a nice big window to sit in front of as I comb through these files, though. I worked on staying in balance between my breath, being present with the work, keeping patient, and being with the sky as I worked.
It's easy to practice in a beautiful Zen garden with nothing but peace and tranquility all around. It's easy to imagine what being awake would be like as a life of bliss. I am learning to look at each situation that makes me disappointed or frustrated or annoyed as an opportunity to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak.
Like the person who believes that they will be happy as soon as they lose weight, get more money, earn their degree, or whatever, it's pointless to study Buddhism with the idea of how nice things will be if I were enlightened. Waking up won't change that the dishes will need to be washed, the files audited, the kitty litter pan scooped. The change that can happen in an instant is how I feel about those things.
So, I kept at it - reminding myself to breathe, moving into a rhythm for the day, and practiced being Sysiphys - actually, I was stunned at how much I accomplished.
Practicing right effort, right concentration, right mindfullness, and right livelihood. Not bad for a day's work! ;)
