“As soon as you find your mind spinning in a squirrel cage of its own making, stop and listen to the music of the room. When you are frazzled after spending an entire day on your computer, step outside, open your awareness out into the darkness, and listen to the music of the evening.” – deeper lessons section in “How to Train a Wild Elephant”
I used to have an Ipod and before that any other devices that piped music into my ears during my commute. I like to bike, walk or ride the bus to an upbeat tempo. Then one fateful day, as I biked to work, the Ipod fell out of my pocket and shattered onto to the ground. That was 2-3 years ago and now I bike, walk or ride the bus in solitude. It’s better. I listen to the world instead of blocking it out.
Don’t get me wrong. People having loud and personal telephone conversations on the bus are not my fave. I don’t care to hear what you’re thinking for dinner or who said what at last night’s party or why you hate your job. I want everyone to be quiet. I’d like the bus to maintain a respectful silence. Yet, I know this person/these people is/are the soundtrack of my life for the current scene. Unlike the scores of great operas or musicals, the melodies of my life are not always perfect. The tempo isn’t consistent. The variations can be bizarre to say the least. My practice is to find the peace within the complexities.
Last night, I had a lovely catch-up dinner with Steve. I shared -probably more accurately *over shared*- all the hoopla going on in my life. People I love are going through turmoil. As a storyteller, I can regale their tales with a flourish befitting an opera or Lifetime movie. At various points, I would interject my own state of being… ‘I’m at peace.‘ And I am.
It seems ridiculous of me that at other times in my life with far less going on I was ‘in a squirrel cage‘ of my own making. For years, the voices inside my head were relentless. My mind filled with a frenzy of monumentally important ways people in my life should be different. What I’ve learned and continue to practice is I can’t change people. I can only change my response to them. And if I love someone -really love them- then I need to respect where and who they are. I can’t let myself be consumed by anyone’s drama. I get to choose my own genre and I lean toward a good comedy sprinkled with a-ha moments.
This week’s challenge in “How to Train a Wild Elephant” reminded me that I am getting better at finding the peace within the noise. I can sit next to a chatty bus rider without building resentment. I can actively help someone through a toxic maze and not wallow in the negativity. And what makes it easier to find my peace in pandemonium is I can vent to my own support system (Divine, friends, family) and then let it go! I don’t need to carry it, marinate in it or relive it. I work for peace, internally and globally.
Next week’s challenge is a little dated. Every time a phone rings I am to take three mindful breaths to settle the mind before answering. Since my communication system favors texting, I’m going to alternatively every hour find a three breath opportunity.