| A misconception exists about managing our lives, | | | | of my attitude was a result of this).o I didn't get every |
| especially if we use spiritual tools. The misconception is | | | | bit of work done I'd brought with me, but I got |
| that everything should go "perfectly" all the time. We | | | | everything that was important done, including my |
| really know how to burden ourselves with such | | | | scheduled calls.o My friend needed to return a day |
| thoughts. | | | | later than expected, which moved my schedule back |
| A spiritual approach to life (or any approach) is not | | | | a day; but, we had a lovely visit when she returned. |
| about controlling everything; it's about managing your | | | | She treated me to a two-pound lobster dinner and |
| energy no matter what. It's about choosing how you | | | | sent me home with car service, a 1 hour-ride instead |
| experience the moments. If you understand you may | | | | of the 2.5-hour train, subway, and walking commute I |
| stumble, your perspective and experience can be a | | | | would have made with a heavy suitcase. |
| better one. | | | | There was more, but you can see how even though |
| I lived this when I recently house-sat for a friend, | | | | unexpected stuff happened, good things consistently |
| something I've done several times before. Though | | | | occurred, as well. I have to admit I had some inner |
| each time is different, there's a mix of what needs to | | | | struggle going on, all of it self-induced, of course. It's so |
| get done and a mini-vacation. It's an understatement to | | | | easy to slip into patterns of negative inner chatter |
| say there are amenities: use of the Mercedes Jeep, | | | | when things "seem" to go awry. |
| Jacuzzi, fireplace, big screen TV and satellite, the huge | | | | Way of the Peaceful Warrior, the movie based on |
| house on two gorgeous secluded acres, the private | | | | Dan Millman's book, played the last day I was there. In |
| beach, and more. Previous times involved around three | | | | one scene, Joy speaks to Dan months after his |
| hours of physical energy each day to take care of | | | | accident and says, "I know this is a scary time for you, |
| things that have to get done, sometimes a bit more, | | | | but are you paying attention?" When I perceived how |
| though I stay available for whatever 24/7, with the rest | | | | this line of dialogue felt in my body, I entered a state of |
| of the time my own. | | | | inner peace. |
| This time, each day involved six to eight hours of | | | | This line was what my week had been about, |
| physical energy, plus some of my own work . . . | | | | especially since I swapped "scary" with "stressful." |
| Definitely not a mini-vacation for someone who uses | | | | There were times I'd paid attention to how my ego got |
| her mind, not her muscles.o The first five days, a | | | | rattled and I'd thought, "Watch your circuitry." One day I |
| young houseguest was there who had events in New | | | | walked around thinking the word "Peace" every time |
| York City every day; and I felt responsible that she | | | | my self-chatter didn't benefit me. My days at home |
| returned safely every evening, which meant I never | | | | (where I work) are, primarily, easily managed and |
| went to bed until she was back (we had delightful | | | | orderly. During those ten days, I observed how flexible |
| conversations in front of the fireplace).o The first night | | | | and inflexible I can be when not in my "controlled" |
| a storm littered the yard and large koi pond with | | | | environment. I noted the attention I pay and don't pay |
| branches and debris, and uprooted a newly planted | | | | to what and how, and how often. |
| tree that blocked the driveway and street (my friend | | | | On the seventh day, I told myself it was time to |
| has tree staff that showed up thirty minutes after I | | | | surrender; realized it was possible to make a list of |
| called her and they saved the tree).o There was a | | | | things I chose to do each day and get them done, no |
| second storm the next day (I discovered after clearing | | | | matter what else happened; and, I surrendered the |
| debris after the first storm that yard guys appear and | | | | agenda of restful days and nights. This didn't mean I |
| take care of this).o The next day, a segment of the | | | | gave up, but allowed the experience, observed myself |
| basement floor was covered with leaves (the guy | | | | amid all of it, and chose to flow and respond more |
| with the leaf blower didn't close the window), so I | | | | often, rather than react (or gritch, which I did to some |
| cleaned up.o The following day, the same floor | | | | extent until watching the Peaceful Warrior movie). I |
| segment was covered with a LOT of bird feathers | | | | allowed it had gone just as it should so I could learn |
| (lots of fun to sweep). A few hours later, I found the | | | | something about myself. |
| live bird, caught it with gloved-hands, set it free, and | | | | Surrender, then, can mean to allow. It can mean to pay |
| marveled the cats that stay down there let it alone.o | | | | attention in a way that serves you. It can allow you to |
| There was a surprise-to-me installation of five phones | | | | merge with events so you become the experience |
| that caused me to sit with the dog for five hours so | | | | you wish to have. |
| the technician could work (during this time, I read most | | | | Is there anything happening in your life at this moment |
| of a book I'd brought). The phone guy had arrived in a | | | | you're resisting? Are you willing to choose to learn |
| cab and was grateful when I got him to the train | | | | about yourself through it? If it's something you can |
| station four minutes before the next train left (this | | | | change, do so. When you find yourself in situations you |
| saved him from a fifty-minute delay). I later found the | | | | don't have complete control over, surrender by paying |
| same basement floor section I'd cleaned twice was | | | | attention. Shift it, if needed, and if you can; because |
| littered from his working in that area.o There were two | | | | when you pay attention, you feel your inner power |
| nights out of ten the dog (with bark set on Loud) didn't | | | | grow in strength and peace. Then you can perceive |
| yelp frantically in the middle of the night at raccoons or | | | | and experience what's going on around you differently. |
| nothing (I don't do loss of sleep well and allow that part | | | | |