Today's Thought - March

[bluidkiti]

March 20

If I'm standing in line in the supermarket...I ask, how can I spend my time there without just being impatient? And the way to do it is by paying attention to the environment.

~John Cage

Truly paying attention to what is in front of us can be a meditation. It is a way of being alive in the moment and appreciating reality, instead of having an attitude of impatience or boredom. If we engage actively with what we see and hear - noticing what is, not just our judgments about it - we will find the unexpected.

When we have tasks to perform, we can give them our whole attention, instead of simply hurrying to finish. Cooking for ourselves, caring for a sick friend, and even paying our bills needn't be tedious experiences if we don't resist them. When we cook, for example, we can take time to appreciate the color, texture, smell, and taste of the food we're preparing. We can give thanks for the gift of nourishment and eat with gratefulness. Whatever we are engaged in doing, we can live each moment as if it were created for us, meant to allow us to pause and be refreshed.

Today, I bring my full attention to whatever I do.

Today's reading is from the book Glad Day