|
Slow Drivers and How to Be Present
My daily struggle is how to be present.
Well... maybe not struggle so much anymore.
But a daily intention. Yes. Intention.
I don't always succeed.
But I'm far better than I used to be.
Meditation is supposed to help one get to a place where you just notice the thoughts flying through your mind but not attach to them.
When we attach to a thought, then psychologically invest in them, then cherish them, they become beliefs.
But when we just notice the thought without psychologically investing in it, then we can remain present without being pulled along by it.
For example, I live in a small town with a lot of older people. Ya, I know... I'm an "older people". But I mean quite old. And typically they drive very slow. Slower than the speed limit. I used to allow myself to get all worked up when I was stuck behind one of them. Especially if I was trying to get somewhere... like a movie. (Man! When was the last time I was at a movie theater????) The saying of Jesus... what good does worrying do you? Worrying won't add a single day to your life. So why do it? What good does getting all worked up about the slow driver in front of me do? Absolutely nothing. You can't pass them. They're not going to magically speed up.
I've found this is perfect meditation practice. Just breathe, and don't attach to the thought psychologically. Don't go down that road of emotional investments in the thoughts such as, "Can't they see there's a whole string of cars behind them?" "Don't they realize people like me aren't out for a pleasure drive but are actually trying to get somewhere?" "I wish we had big rubber bumpers on our cars so we could gently bump them out of the way." "They have no idea they're ruining my day!" You know what I mean.
Instead, just notice the thought. But don't attach any significance or meaning or emotion to it. "They're slow." Period. That's it. That's how it's done.
That's how you can be present.
You're welcome!
|
