Spiritual Practice

While in NYC on 6/27 I had dinner with a long time friend near her office on W 38th Street. During our meal at "Burgers and Cupcakes" (yes the cupcakes are awesome!) she shared about a relationship that is challenging in her life and explained that one of the compelling reasons to maintain it is that - aside from its positive characteristics and shared bonds - it is the cornerstone of her "spiritual practice". We talked about how it's easy to use the common non-interactive types of practice such as meditation, journaling, yoga, Reiki,tithing, etc. but the "rubber really meets the road" when we utilize our tools in challenging (confrontational, negative, blaming, angry, etc.) relationships.

After leaving NYC I traveled to Maryland to visit with my sister, brother-in-law and my 2 nephews, ages 4 & 7 and niece, age 9. It's been a long time since I have been around children this age for an extended period of time (my daughters are 24 and 26) and it was in every way challenging - sibling rivalry, tiredness, being hot, hungry, thirsty, overstimulated, wanting attention, etc. - were common states of being. Not that it wasn't enjoyable - my special achievement was noting how my 4 yo nephew talked with me during this visit and let me read him stories (last year this would have been unthinkable!); however, it was demanding, all consuming and never ending. Hats off to my sister and other parents for responding to these needs with aplomb, patience and perseverance! During my visit my niece celebrated her 9th birthday - adding yet another dimension to the behaviors of her siblings who weren't the center of attention. I must honestly say that maintaining a sense of inner peace amidst the squirmishes was difficult; I aspired to use the philosophy of Eckhart Tolle, in his book, "The New Earth" - where he quotes a Zen Master who says the secret to happiness is "to never mind what happens - to always be in the present and the now...."

I confess that I was excited to get in my car by myself this am and head off toward Tennessee....