Seasons
Fleetings
Ah fall, a time for homecomings, baseball
play-offs, and everything pumpkin. This year however, I’ve been noticing a
disturbing trend (yes, even more disturbing than everything pumpkin.) I was
shopping in a craft store, early October mind you, and was shocked, shocked I
tell you, to find Halloween and fall decor was already marked down 50-70%!
Why? Apparently, to make room for the tidal wave of
Christmas merchandise that has been stealthily creeping onto their shelves
since September. And now it appears November 1st is poised to take
the place of Black Friday as the kick off for the Christmas shopping season.
It’s as if Thanksgiving is being erased from existence. What’s the rush? Why
the hurry?
The
Hurry Sickness & One Pointed Attention
It’s a curious way of being, to hurry. It hardly
ever lends itself to a good outcome. We’ve all heard the sayings, “haste makes
waste” and “slow and steady wins the race.” Even Simon and Garfunkel told us
we’re moving too fast. Slowing down sounds great, in theory, but how does one
make it work in our fast-paced world?
As I was pondering the logistics of a slower-paced
life, I was reminded of spiritual teacher Sri Eknath Easwaran, and one of his
books, Passage Meditation. Easwaran believed hurrying was actually a
sickness. He claimed hurrying only makes our lives tense, insecure,
inefficient, and superficial. Well I don’t know about you, but that sounds
awful!
According to Easwaran, slowing down and mastering
the art of One Pointed Attention (training the mind to give full attention to
one thing at a time) is the remedy to the hurry sickness. Easwaran
maintains slowing down can reduce the stress and friction that is caused by
hurrying. One Pointed Attention helps to calm the mind and deepen
concentration, a pre-requisite for realizing one’s goals.
“It
may sound paradoxical, but however tight our schedule, however many things
clamor to be done, we don't need to hurry. If we can keep our mind calm and go
about our business with undivided attention, we will not only accomplish more
but we'll do a better job - and find ourselves more patient, more at peace.” -
Eknath Easwaran
“My Mind Is A Raging Torrent…” –Hedley Lamarr,
Blazing Saddles
Staying present has been one of my life-long struggles.
It seems my brain is always one or three steps ahead of my body. In the shower
I’m thinking about breakfast. At breakfast I’m thinking about my pending trip
to the grocery store. At the store I’m thinking about the chores waiting for me
at home. I think you get the picture.
And since chronic illness entered my life some
years ago, I have taken my regrets and worries to a new level. I’m constantly
catching myself remembering and dwelling on the past, “Could this have been discovered
sooner? Why didn’t I switch doctors earlier?” As well as imagining and worrying
about the future, “Will I be able to afford this treatment? What if my
condition worsens?”
As I reflect on Easwaran’s proclamation and my own
habits, I think about what happens when I’m in a hurry. Nothing gets done well,
that’s for sure. And how does hurrying feel in my body? Frustration will arise
and my jaw will tighten, muscles start to tense, head begins to throb, and my
chest feels heavy. In other words, not good; maybe even, oh I don’t know… like
I’m sick?
Where
to Start?
As I wondered where in my life I could slow down
and employ a little one pointed attention, I decided to start at the beginning,
my morning cup of coffee.
I do love everything about a good cup of coffee!
It truly is the best part of waking up. Many mornings find me at my computer
with a cuppa by my side. Lately though, I’ve become painfully aware of how
often I take my coffee for granted. I can’t tell you how many times I have reached
to take a sip only to find it tepid and undrinkable or worse yet, the mug is
mysteriously empty!
My morning coffee had become commonplace, just
another cog in the wheel that keeps me going. A strange way to treat something
I claim to love. So I challenged myself to stop using my morning coffee as a
prop and put it center stage. To slow down and give my full attention to the
act of drinking it while doing nothing else. And you know what? I think I’m on
to something!
As
I sit outside on the deck, cup in hand, I feel the warmth of the brew radiating
into my palms. I close my eyes. The steam lightly caresses my face as I bring
the mug to my lips. I grin as the smokiness of the aroma tickles my nose. I
take my first sip and make a yummy sound.
As
I open my eyes, I gradually become mindful of my surroundings. The chirping of
the birds and the rustling of the leaves are music to my ears. The trees cast a
spell on me as I watch them gently sway in the breeze. I take another sip and
let out a sigh. I become aware of my breath, it is slow and even. I feel
fantastic in my body!
I am ready to take on the day, one thing at a
time.
