A couple weeks ago, right before the pandemic restrictions took hold, I stood in the bread aisle of our local grocery store and was surprised by the fact that the bread shelves were empty. No stacks of English muffins, potato bread, hot dog rolls. No stone ground wheat, rye or spelt. I’d strolled down the … Continue reading When My Non-Essential Skill Became the Most Essential Thing of All
meditation
It’s Just Material: Writing as a Coping Strategy
A decade ago, when I was in my son’s room folding laundry, he told me about an experience he was having on a school sport’s team. The exact details don’t matter – all kids deal with some sort of challenge in the middle school years. But if I had to name this one it … Continue reading It’s Just Material: Writing as a Coping Strategy
Jumping off the High Dive Again and Again
I have probably announced, dozens of times, that I want to practice meditation. I started my official announcing of this goal nearly a decade or more ago. Declarations are my first step toward taking action and I even recommend my wishes on others -- before I do them myself -- in the form of sentences … Continue reading Jumping off the High Dive Again and Again
On Meditation and a Dog’s Batting Paw
What happens upon returning home after a week at a writing and meditation retreat? I realized soon upon reentry that what I lack most is discipline. But I also lack people around me engaged in the same thing. There is no group dynamic, no army to make me fall into step. To wake up in … Continue reading On Meditation and a Dog’s Batting Paw