Category Archives: Mindfulness

Cat & Mouse Is What I Do

Posted on by under Mindfulness, Uncategorized
Daily writing prompt
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
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I remember when I embarked on an adventurous family reunion in Italy many years ago, and one of my cousins looked at me, and said, “Ari, is it fun in there?” She was referencing my mind, and made this comment after I cracked a barrage of puns, and other theatrical wit. Perhaps if my Italiano was better, then I could have disguised my cornball humor so that it would have read like a foreign language.

And then many moons later, I worked for a new School Principal who brought with her a book called Fish Philosophy into the school community we worked in together at the time. As our new administrator, she built in Fish Philosophy into our staff professional development to enact cultural norms encouraging us to “choose your attitude” and “make their day.”

The theme of Fish Philosophy is simple and was adopted from the famous fish market in Seattle, where the workers throw fish at each other, customers and have fun doing it. Imagine that . . . work and play going together, and that we have a choice in whether we do that or not in the school of life. Before I even read any of the book, a new coworker came up to me after a work related training, and made it a point to tell me that he had started reading the book, and said that I was a good role model of the book’s theme.

https://www.pikeplacefish.com/about

Since before I came out of the womb, I’m sure the cat and mouse part of my personality wasn’t part of my hidden self. As a boy, my mom said that I liked it when she read to me in the womb. Truly, I was probably already acting out the characters that she was reading to me. Most of the trouble I got into in school by teachers, and later in sports by coaches was my clowning around with people, and finding parody and jest in the everyday mundane encounters.

For example, one of my favorite coping strategies to introduce to kids (and adults) is the idea of imagining that the business of life is like playing a video game in your head. It’s been since I was in Middle School that I was a regular video game player, but when I came across that strategy, it resonated in me and many other students I worked with over the years. The Tai Chi classes I have taken also emphasized and embodied the idea of playing with form.

These days, most people expect to be entertained, and typically by someone or something else that they perceive to be outside of themselves; as in an external object of affection, like a pacifier. But the real trick is to discover ways to play with life. As other people take notice, it does tend to become contagious.

Just as an example, I like to play around with mindful breathing during a workout or exercise routine because it brings you into the present moment. Breathing mindfully also makes the workout or exercise routine feel less like work, exercise or a routine for that matter. And when I play my guitar, that’s all I’m doing is playing. It’s more fun that way.

MLK Meditation On Buddhist Psychology & The State of Current Affairs to Remember

Posted on by under Meditation, Mindfulness, Poetry, Spirituality, Uncategorized

By grasping onto any pleasant feeling tones, 

and trying to make them stick around, 

our disappointments, and resentments will surely follow.

Like when a formerly positive vibe was once experienced as an old friend or relationship 

that has sadly turned into a dark edge that was misled down a black hole. 

Sometimes, we forget that we are all rivers of passing emotions 

instead of  icebergs of unchanging feelings.

That is where monolithic rocks of rigidity remain. 

We may climb those rugged mountains, but if we cling to them, 

then they will become the dirge of our identities. 

Perhaps the gentleness of a deer will guide us into 

an intrinsic adventure in mindfulness that is worth self exploration.

Beware that following the yellow brick road is not a 

destined cure for unwanted feelings, emotions or everyday pain!

The journey in healing is a process of alchemy

rather than a coveted destination.

When we are watching the unfolding situational screenplay of life, 

we can see that our different strokes are not all good times 

because the facts of life and family ties 

are really just everyday moments at the office

that aren’t always easy to make friends with. 

It can be especially hard to say cheers to the unpleasant or neutral feeling tones. 

With all the distractions of the world of 10 thousand things,

 it is hard not to cling to the wanting of

attention seeking, an escape or being entertained. 

Sometimes, boredom is viewed as an enemy,

as is the fear of missing out (FOMO).

Has this pandemic revealed your fomophobia?

Rather, being awake is merely a process for dreaming a new dream,

and sitting with what is.

In this realm, we are allowing for fluidity, mutability, 

and an open passivity with the changing seasons of life.

Remember that without the cold, dark days of winter, 

there would be no sunshine and rainbows. 

Or without the disappearance of a warm summer breeze, 

there would be no colorful foliage to peep at. 

You can’t have death without rebirth 

or get to the light without venturing through the dark.

Having an appreciation for the widespread panic of

sarcasm, sardonic humor, or grumpy complaining 

is different from justifying their sharper edges, 

or condoning mood driven attachments to their energies, 

and becoming identified with them.

Like any attachments, our judgments can become security blankets, 

that manifest into memes of our own projections, 

as well as other forms of suffering. 

In the spirit of that . . .  

When we reflect on the solidaridy and soul power of MLK Day, 

may we be inspired to raise our fists, acknowledge the reality of our own fears, 

and step into them with a compassionate activism of empathic courage.

Till we tweet again peeps,

Ari

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