A few years ago, my friend sent along one of his occasional “meditation ditties”:
2 minutes is about the time it takes to heat water in my fancy tea kettle. We spend 2 minutes reading dumb ads on our phones. I regularly spend time recklessly on self flagellation.
Let’s agree to 2 minutes breathing deeply into our being. Opening to whatever arises. If it strikes us to sit a little longer, so be it. It’s a good use of our time.
As I read my friend’s words, I recalled a long-ago time when I (an admitted meditation-cushion-failure sufferer) had successfully learned to briefly pause…..whenever the phone would ring…..for even just one breath….waiting until the 2nd ring….before answering.
As I shared that story with my friend, I added:
This morning, just for yucks, I timed my own electric kettle….2 minutes to gurgling sounds….then 2 minutes to full boil and instant shut-off…
Then, realizing another possible (slightly longer) external cue–oven pre-heat time….as the stove issues a “ding” when the desired temp is reached…
And then, we were off to the races (as it were) to “make a list”. My friend began, by offering:
- Water warming in shower
- Car warming up
My additions:
- Blue (my dog) pee-ing [it varies….from a single drop to at least a quart, sometimes! ;-)]
- Computer re-booting
- Time it takes the hot compress on my eyes to cool
- Watching a leaf drift from a tree to the ground – or a single snowflake….or a butterfly visiting a flowering bush [seasonal delights from my dining room table…]
- The duration of a smile, a giggle, a guffaw…
In return, my friend offered:
- Restroom
- Waiting in car for someone you are picking up
- Food cooking, but don’t get lost
And, later that evening, feeling ever more mellow from all of my “pauses” throughout the day, I shared:
- In the cold, clear night sky, watching (and waiting) as 2 solitary clouds pass across the just-past-full moon.
- Savoring the wondrous, smooth, full, rich flavor of a mini-piece of dark, fair-trade chocolate.
- Standing by the back door, waiting to slip on Blue’s leash, when he turns around to walk over for a drink from his water dish (then back and forth for another…and yet again another…) until HE is finally ready to go for a walk. Noticing how soon (or long) it takes for me to smile at him with love instead of impatience!
So, now, I’m a bit curious……what would YOU add to our list?
My go to is microwave time. I don’t micro food a lot, but I do eat vegan sausage nearly every morning and microwave it for 30-60 seconds (depending on whether it’s links or a patty). I have been trying to incorporate improvisational dance or stretching into those seconds, but I like the idea of a meditative pause. Thanks for sharing!
Dixie – Great ideas. I especially love the idea of an improvisational dance or stretch (could be a meditative movement, I guess as well……).