Mindfulness

This could so be me.  Walking and reading at the same time.  Overly enthusiastic dog.  Psycho cat.

We had such a lovely morning.  My son and I had picked up his brother from college yesterday and driven about an hour east of Chicago to LaPorte, Indiana, where we had settled into a small resort hotel on a little lake.  This morning I took a long walk, discovering another lake and a path through the woods.  I came back to a refreashing swim in the pool just outside our door and a little bit of time to bake in the sun while the boys swam and got organized for the trip home.   

I think this summer's highlights will be made up of tiny patches of time like that.  We used to spend a week or two in St. Augustine every spring, a week or two at Chautauqua every summer, and a week or so at least once a year in a completely new place.  Four different school schedules, five different sets of jobs and activities, and increasing monetary pressures have ended that period of our lives, so we have to find our moments where we can, and not necessarily all together.   

I've been reading a lot of Buddhist stuff in the past month.  I have a real need to practice mindfulness, to be in and aware of the existing moment.  (That probably means that I should not be reading and walking at the same time.)

It's been a tough few weeks.  My children are clearly off and on their way, and no matter how intently I focused on their presence as they grew up, the fact is that they still grew up faster than speed-dial moves.  I've had a huge disappointment, with major financial repercussions, at work, adding a completely unexpected level of stress to my life.  I've had a huge compliment outside of work, in an arena that's important to me, and I'm mystified by the juxtapositon of such bad stuff in one place and such good stuff in another.   

So. . . I really needed to just enjoy the Indiana water and sun this morning.