Part 1 Morning Contemplation
think of these things for your morning contemplation, with your coffee or tea, not the news or the movie you are binging
don’t start with email and messages
start with considering the great mystery of time
that is all we have
we say we don’t have enough
we have so much
are we missing it?
children don’t know they are children
I watch children playing and they are unaware
yet adults don’t know either
we don’t know we are alive this minute, not just with
The forest and puppies and sunsets
which you definitely don’t want to miss
be alive this minute of
your work out and how it feels to lift that weight over your head
don’t yearn for it to be over
same with the deep yoga stretch that your teacher
has you hold for 3 minutes
oh my god
don’t hurry it and sigh and wish it over
be there, be here
and your meeting with your colleagues
they are here at the table in all shapes and expressions
pulling to get the thing done
pulling to make a great product and sell it
pulling to make an organization that is a good place to work
for you and for your family
Part 2 Slow and Still
reflecting and breathing in the morning
smiling meditation upon awakening
20 minute out loud prayer
start with a poet, Billy Collins “Aimless Love”, Maya Angelou “Still I Rise” or Ciona Rouse “Do the Crazy Thing” and of course, Mary Oliver
slow domesticity
walk the stairs to your office, 9 flights
make the coffee, take one to your colleague
wipe down the counters
slowly
sweep the floor
pick up the trash
take the call when someone calls for help
send them to AL Anon when that is what they need
or take them to the gym
or back to their writing desk
pick up the phone
tell her you love her
tell him too
in other cases, allow the space, let it breathe, don’t push for an answer
listen to your children
listen to anyone
ask them to listen to you, that too
Part 3 Listen
Listen
someone brings up something
don’t talk
ask more about that, get them talking
it will be amazing
tell me about that
tell me how that is
or as Gabriel says, how are you coming today
and thank you for to be with me this morning
our dear Pilates teacher
don’t worry about understanding or being understood
listen and wonder
be here and see what is happening
don’t miss it
take a stand for yourself, though, caring for yourself and others
write a haiku
I stop to listen;
the cricket
has done the same.
(by Arizona Zipper in The haiku Anthology edited by Cor van den Heuvel)
Part 4 Listen to your song
take a stand
take care of yourself
don’t absorb others’ woes, witness but don’t absorb
take your space
slow breathing
some things are not for you to handle
it is for them
I call it “none of my business”
even my opinions are “none of my business”
what is your business is loving your life
being awake to this miracle of being a human being
you were born for this moment
your heart is breaking and full, crying, more sad than ever
be with that full life, let that visitor in your house
you are alive
listen to Willie, Leon and Ray sing This Song is for You by Leon Russell
and Your Song by Elton John
love the one you’re with and the one you miss
love the one you are