Zenseday or Snow hey oh

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2010
Zenseday or Snow hey oh
34
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 7:47am

I know some of you are experiencing the same blizzard I am here in Northern Illinois. I've been up for some time listening to the wind whip outside (it’s gusting up to 60 mph they are saying). I've always loved storms – summer and winter. There is something peaceful about winter storms (plus no threat of tornados). There in so much energy in the little flakes as they fly through the air, completely silent. When a flake lands on your hand, you see it’s beauty and delicacy for a quick second before it melts away. The new snow creates a peaceful blanket of white, covering the dirt and grime and slush from previous storms.

Part of ending an affair has to do with changing your habits – the habit of checking your phone, or driving by his/her house – even your thoughts become habits. Think of it like walking through 3 feet of fresh snow. At first it’s difficult – your legs get stuck, your boot falls off, but as you walk that same path it gets easier and easier. Forming a habit is like forging that initial path. Who wants to trek through 3 feet of snow? We do! It’s all about your attitude and the way you look at it. Take another path today and change a habit. You have a fresh, untouched blanket of white in front of you and you get to choose the direction your new path will take.

Simply being in this winter wonderland keeps me in the present time. Even if you are in the desert or on the other side of the world experiencing summer right now, see your surroundings in a new light today.

Bodhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2010
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 12:34pm

What a cute puppy Michelle! Good for you taking a new path and applying everything you're learning in your new work environment! :)

Bodhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2009
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 12:45pm
Hey, M, congrats on the new job and immediately setting boundaries

So, if you don't mind my asking what happened to your old job? Did you move or something? I must have missed that post. One thing I can say, if those who still work with their XAPs would do the same thing as you did, they would heal so much more quicker. In hindsight, I wish I had done this. Now it's to late to start over again...well, maybe not... Our doors could close anytime due to financial problems, but there will be no tears running down this gal's face. It could be the challenge I've been waiting for. :)

Keep up the good work, (in and out of the office ;-)

Proud of you, girl!
Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life. ~ Buddha
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2010
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 1:00pm
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2010
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 1:21pm

Bodhi, Iddy & Mom,

THANKS YOU WONDERFUL WOMEN!!!!!

Elvis is my little pocket of neurotic sunshine.

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart... Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens. I started looking inside and went NC October 15, 2010
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2009
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 2:06pm

Bodhi your post was so peaceful, and embracing to read.

BE the change that you want to see in the world! Life loves me and I love life! <3
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2008
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 2:12pm

Yea!!! Happy Zenseday one and all!

<>

If I wait for a snow plow to carve out the path is that being lazy or smart thinking?

I kid!

Great post Bodhi! Like the analogies.

Now this is just me thinking outloud here: If we had snow on the ground here in the west, I’m wondering if I shoveled snow on my neighbor’s car does it act as a sound buffer? How much snow would it take to counter a fifty billion terawatt amp? Any scientist in the house?

Good use of a natural resource? Yes? No?

Love all,

E1

Edited to add: love all the dog pics…too cute! Congrats on the new job Michelle and your new approach!

Whether you think you can or you think you can't you are probably right. A parrot can repeat what it has learned but the mark of true intelligence is applying what is learned.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2010
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 2:18pm

Thanks New Season :) Days like this are just a gift - like an extra weekend day. Changing the way you think is so challenging - thank you for reminding me of the power of positive thought. A happy, peaceful day to you too :)

Bodhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2010
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 2:24pm

E1 :)

Ha! Nope, can't rely on the snow plow - they get stuck - my guy got stuck in our driveway this morning and had to be pulled out! I take it you have a neighbor with a loud car??? We used to have an annoying teen neighbor with a loud truck and I would sarcastically say "there goes the cool guy in his truck" and my son (about 5 yrs old at the time) called every black truck he saw a "cool guy truck". Now you could make better use of the snow and scoop some in their gas tank, that would take care of it!

Bodhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-19-2010
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 5:19pm
Yet another perfect meditation Bodhi, seriously week after week Kockin 'em out!

As a product of the mid-west myself, and now experiencing one of the craziest winters of my life on the east coast....I can certainly feel for you all! And who wants to trek through 3 feet of snow? I DO!! The dessert made me SOFT! LOL.

But really for me, today persevering through the new foot of snow was changing a habit! Before both while in the A, and especially while recovering from it I would have taken any excuse to not have to head into my lab. Avoidance of what needed to be done in order to lay in bed and wallow in the hurt and pain. But that was not healthy, not mentally, emotionally, physically, or professionally. But with to much inaction come danger of being stuck. So I changed that habit and refocused.

I also think of your analogy this way. You have two options...trudge through and make a path in that snow...or wait for it to melt. Well, what I have learned this winter here is that is a bad idea. Cause the next storm is coming, and is only gonna make that snow deeper, and make it harder to trudge through and make that path the longer you wait. Wait long enough and you wont even be able to get out your front door. You know we always here about the benefits and need to take "the path less traveled"...but hell if they don't tell you its gonna be rough and you need a machete to cut through the tangled depths of the forest.

And no fair offering a blank canvas of pure white snow to any guy...cause we instantly revert back to boy hood and drawing our names in the snow...or should I say melting our names in the snow. :)

Wishing you a wonderfully beautiful day at your house as you enjoy the view of your new surroundings. Wishing you peace and zen. I will leave you with a quote on the subject from one of my favorite modern Zen masters...

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" ~~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Namaste to you Bodhi, and to all!
peace&light
Foggy
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-24-2011
Wed, 02-02-2011 - 6:45pm

Bodhi - what a superb analogy. It takes me right back to my days in Boston when I did have to trudge through three feet of snow (and where I first made the common mistake of choosing