Christmas Afternoon Walk
The sky so beautifully dramatic it eclipses the Capitol dome.

The sky so beautifully dramatic it eclipses the Capitol dome.


“Write more, that’s all I have to say.” There were several more lines of text, but none so coherent or compelling as this.
Yes, spammer, I would like to be writing more imaginatively and more about the yoga here and elsewhere. I am fully occupied, though, with a technical writing of quite some magnitude if magnitude were to be measured only by the number of words and ideas included. With the social and substantive complexity relating to the project and how it fits within the fabric of creating the rules that govern our society, it is a creative in its own way, but it is more draining than inspiring.
The exercise involves many drafters who come from a wide range of perspectives, training and background, and who have different responsibilities and senses of responsibility. Most everyone is feeling stressed and under-supported in their own way and acting in the multifarious ways people act when that’s how they are experiencing things. I am struggling to stay compassionately present for myself and all who are engaged in the endeavor.
Reminding myself of reasons to be grateful always helps. The yoga and meditation practices, in addition to my creative pursuits, are at the top of the list. The practices are the only truly steady back up that I have. Perhaps that is true for everyone to a greater or lesser degree. The philosophies that inform the practices–whether renunciate or tantra–ultimately would not, I think, disagree.
It is good to get outside as often as possible. Though I spend most of my time in the city, by commuting and doing many of my errands on foot and by gardening I spend a good amount of time outside (perhaps even more than people who commute by car and then drive to “nature” to go hiking), attuning with weather and the seasons. Like my friend Reya, I think it is important to spend time outside nearly every day. Though I do not leave the city much, I know the weather and the seasons fr0m my walking around and through the neighborhood to work and to shop and in the green urban spaces that are so precious.
Do you have a favorite green spot near you if you live in the city or the suburbs? Do you give energy to support and share green spaces?
Bronx River, New York Botanical Gardens