Back to reality.
I’m on week 4 of “How to Train a Wild Elephant.” I had to suspend last week’s lesson on filler words. Although I do want to write in concise sentences and not go on and on and on about nothing of particular relevance, I speak succinctly.
I’m blunt. Some say ‘curt.’ I’m a brevity talker. (Friends may disagree.) One of my pet peeves is many people don’t edit themselves. I’m annoyed if someone rattles on in a meeting. I can’t stand long-winded explanations. I’ve stopped going to conferences because I’m too critical of speakers. And I hate the conference attendee with ‘a question’ that really isn’t a question. It’s his 5 minute topical monologue. Get to the point! I’m zoning big time during your repeated ‘in terms of‘ and ‘ums‘ and ‘well, you know.‘ I know I’m hating on you.
Last week’s focus on filler words brewed up negative energy. I stopped. The only task I’m truly excelling at is week #2 ‘leave no trace.’ My office is perfect for both my arrival and departure. The practice actually forces me to adapt a ritual exit. I need to power down early enough to ensure tidy time is observed. And the cleanliness greets me in the morning.
This week is ‘appreciate your hands.‘ I’m supposed to focus on my hands when they are active or still. I’m to envision them as if they belong to a stranger. The book suggests writing ‘watch me‘ on my hands. Uh, no. I typically wear my bracelets on my left arm. I don’t like wearing them on both wrists. It looks like handcuffs. And it’s too symmetrical for me. I’m not that uniform. For this week, I will be. The configuration will remind me to appreciate my hands.
P.S. Honestly, this hand does look like a stranger’s. It’s old and wrinkly… when did that happen?