RIP Ram Dass

There are thousands of little temples — some hardly more than altars — scattered throughout both the countryside and cities here. I marvel at the artistry of some and the garishness of others.
I think, on witnessing this effulgence of creativity, of what helps me remember the everyday sacred. Mostly, I am inclined to look inward.
Needing a brightly decorated space that tells a story is so different from my Quaker upbringing.
That it ended up in the shape of a heart for me to notice, does not make me wish any less that people would stop the disgusting habit of spitting over-chewed gum onto the sidewalk.
Though I believe that true happiness depends on seeing the good in everything, some times the only good to be seen is the goad to seek change.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
I walked in early to work this morning because I had a dentist appointment and wanted to speak with a colleague before rather than after. I’d planned to get in an hour of work and then take the metro to my appointment. There was a fire that caused a temporary closure, so I head out early and walked. The morning was pleasant, and I had a nice chat on the way with some union workers from metro.
I got caught up in something in the middle of the day today. By the time I could reasonably take a break (I did eat my lunch from home), it was too late to be able to get a real break. I then worked fairly late. By the end of the day, I really noticed the difference between a day when I have taken a walk, met a friend, sat at the Botanical Garden or the museum for even 15-20 minutes and this day, when I let myself get so tangled in the demands of work that I did not take a break.
I work better in the afternoon when I have taken a break, just as my work, my body, my digestion, my sleep, and my relationships are healthier when I practice consistently. I no longer need a reminder how important it is both to take a good break each day and to find time for practice. I am looking at this day, though, as a teaching lesson, an extra reminder of the importance of finding some delicious time to bring into the rest of the day.
Do you take a break to eat quietly or take a walk in the middle of your day? Can you notice the difference the days you do and the days you don’t? What about the weeks you practice and the weeks you do not? Does this not fire you up with resolve to be steadier in your practice and kinder to yourself?