- Finally reaching a place of peace and calm today after a string of days with anxiety. It was one of those moments when the truth of the teaching settles down on me, fills my cells. There are no problems. There are only situations. I am in a situation that has been filling me with worry. There are things I can do to better that situation. Some of them I can do now, other things I can start planning now. That’s all there is.
- The synchronicity between what I most need to hear in the morning and the lesson I find in that morning’s reading passage.
- That my prayers are always answered. I don’t know if there is a god; I tend more toward a non-theistic but still deeply spiritual view of the Universe. Nevertheless, when I pray to this entity or force that is inside me or everywhere, the answer always comes.
- The simple beauty all around me…in the dried flowers silhouetted in the window, in the African violet with sunlight illuminating the scalloped edges of each fuzzy leaf, in the soft patterns and pastel colours of the tea cup collages hanging on the wall in the breakfast nook.
- A Peregrine Falcon catching my eye before it glided out of sight around the next building.
- Using my present circumstances to deepen my practice.
- That any uncomfortable situation is a chance to practice dying…to practice dancing with situations we cannot change and cannot control.
- Getting myself laughing this morning, knowing how healing those endorphins are.
- Heading out on a grand adventure very soon… to the Fox Theatre in Detroit with Sylvain.
- Taking good care of myself by drinking lots of water.
What I learned yesterday: lots and lots about the city of Pittsburgh, such as the fact that Mr. Rogers Neighborhood was filmed there.
I’m sure Garrison Keillor will teach me something new tonight.
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What I love about Garrison Keillor is the frequency with which he teaches me something old. It could be because of the accumulation of my years, but I find great value in reminders of wisdom I have already been exposed to, but which has slipped my mind.
I am struck by the many lessons, simple yet invaluable lessons, which you note in this post, Kelly. The just-in-time nature of the teacher’s arrival, the fact that there are only situations– problems exist between our ears and only there, the perfectly consistent and responsive Universe that answers everything if we would only ask…you have delivered a wonderful sermon-by-experience today, my friend.
Thank you, Rick! K
great post. your life is full. “No problem” is one of the Shambala sayings (an offshoot of Chogyam Trungpa’s teachings). And working with anxiety, I am often doing that too. Change my perspective. Opportunity to practice dying. I like that Kelly. It’s so true. be well, Suki
You be well, too, Suki. K
just wanted to let you know i still havent gotten that page you mailed a bit ago. I know it is not you, but the mail system.
Yes, amazing how many times I have mailed things from here and had the recipient begin to worry if the item would indeed ever arrive. So far it always has. :) K