I've written and shared live topics of habits and ruts, this past week. Leaning on the Dhammapada and scriptures, I have offered advice about being a more objective observer of your own self and walk. "American's work to live, and European's live to work". I first heard this from my European raised girlfriend while at Reed College. This European adage means that we labor, so that we might have a life, after work, while in the old world, vocations and labor are labors of love, meaning that you live while you work, and after.
This is neither universally true, nor individually prohibitive of finding a vocation that inspires us. The 7 days of the week, are an arbitrary measurement of time, but thanks to the American Labor movement, we have weekend's and vacations. Pack a year of living into a 2 week, usually high stress, break from the weekly routine, But most people can appreciate that Monday's ofter come around sooner than we wish. Carpe diem, or seize the day, is a very well known philosophy of the Roman's, more a military adage, than a philosophical tenet. However, as a life philosophy, it is one of the most helpful ways to approach life. To awaken, holding on to dreams, with a gratitude for life, and an intention to truly live, there is no better way to get up on the right side of your bed.
When I am ready to rise, a take a moment and some deep breaths, and look for dreams, and focus on the intentions of the day. I don't find "to do" lists to be the same as meditative intention. I try to keep a note pad close to me, so that I can jot down concern's and needs for the week, and then try to put one or more into my day's intentions. I begin with sacred writings, and then quiet time. By this time, I usually have an idea of concerns and priorities for the day. This comes from a semi-retired point of view, but even if I had a 9-5 job, I would rise early enough to assure my practices. For me, this has proven to be a pretty darn good compass and organizer for my daily walks. I seek to remember gratitude, stay ready and poised to serve, and remember forgiveness and tolerance as I co-mingle with the maddening crowd. These intentions represent the energetic themes of the 3rd, 5th and 6th chakra's, and when fed with intention, they pretty much insure a day of loving-kindness. For me, this is a life well lived.
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