Lately I’ve been finding that no matter how much I try to be mindful, and take my own advice, when it comes down to it…it’s hardly ever possible. I’ve been referring to the feeling as “becoming a passenger on my own ride.” By this I mean that I’ve become less in control of my reactions to situations that occur in my life.
Enter: A week in Toronto with Dave. It seems that these times where I lose control of my emotion often coincide with a visit from Dave, which always helps me recenter myself, and take control of my emotions again. Dave is one of the most centered and controlled person I have ever met, and every time I see him, I leave with a very calmed demeanor.
This couldn’t have come at a better time. I ended up leaving Toronto to venture on a 13hr travel(8 by train, and 5 by car) to spend some time with a friend in need. As I drove the last leg of my trip, a 4 hour drive to New Jersey last night, I became fearful that I would not be able to hold myself together when arriving at my destination. But, with my week of calmness in the back of my mind, and some wise words, of Thich Nhat Hanh that I had read on the train, I was reminded to be mindful of the present situation. Though it is important to think about the future, as we would not be able to exist in present society without some thought of it, it is not necessary to be fixated on it.
One popular Zen story warns of missing the moon, because a person is too busy staring at the finger that is pointing out the moon. This is a story that is often interpreted different ways, by the monk or Zen master that is discussing the story, or the situation they are discussing. Today, this story is a great reminder to me that when we are fixated on the finger, in this case being the future, we miss the beauty of the moon, or the present. What a nice reminder to stop, smile, and realize how beautiful the moment that you are in is.
