I have been a member of a group called the Women in BusinessConnection (WIBC for short) in Cambridge, MA for about fouryears. We get together for lunch meetings once a month. Lastweek at our December event several of the women commented to mehow much they liked my newsletter. It is always nice to hearcomplimentary feedback but one woman went even farther – shesaid it was like getting a “Zen moment” in her email. (ThanksCibeline!)Her Wholesale Eco-friendly plastic lunch box comment got me thinking. That is exactly what I want toprovide – Zen moments for my readers.
I am in no way a Zenexpert but I do hope that reading my monthly messages mightoffer you a moment to temporarily unhook from what I call thePerpetual Progress Grid of life. My wish is to share with you amoment of reflection, appreciation and calm. So today, I will describe for you how I unhook from the gridfor brief moments of time and at random intervals. I believe itis this short but consistent “unhooking” that keeps merefreshed, creative and ultimately at peace. By sharing mytechniques with you, I invite you to borrow, create or identifyyour own.I “unhook” from the pressures, desires, thrills, and obligationsof the Perpetual Progress Grid when:– I hear my dog pitter-patter up the stairs to join me in myoffice and I stop what I am doing for a few minutes, pat herbelly and thank her for coming to visit me. –I take a work break, drive into town and get coffee at myfavorite independent coffee shop with my husband.–I turn off my phone, ignore email and descend into creativebliss when writing.
I take a moment to stare out a window and notice the way therain, snow or sunshine is reflecting off the glass at just thatmoment.–I attend a yoga class and gratefully stretch both my mind andlimbs to their full expression.–I take a deep breath and feel it extend my abdomen.–I drive slowly and in silence.–I rhythmically clean my house, cook a meal, wrap a gift or washdishes (yes, I sometimes like the feel soapy hot water on myhands). –I sit anywhere and watch the world for a moment – the people,the trees and the clouds…whatever is happening in front of mefrom my vantage point.–I sing (badly too, trust me).When I do these things I am temporarily “free floating” and mymind is at some level disengaged from the need to achieve. It is a place where small moments of joy live.With the holiday season upon us, I invite you to occasionallyunhook and allow yourself to free float. Your reward will cometo you in the form of more peace, comfort and joy.
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