I’m so pretend busy.

Alexandra Langstaff2 Comments

I like being busy as much as I like sitting on the couch with a book. My to-do lists are long. My pile of books is big. Lists keep me organized and books keep me distracted.
Today’s List

Write the nieces.

Make up a dance about popcorn.

Vacuum the kitchen.

Plant some peas.

Check on IRS refund.

Think about a new business card.

Walk with Candy.

Buy candy.

Call Franny.

Plan another get-rich-quick scheme.

Do homework.

Teach 3 kids classes.

Teach 2 adult classes.

Some things on the list need immediate attention. Most of them don’t. Those that fall in the latter category are in bold. I like having a picture of things I have to do and reminder of things I’ll get to when I feel like it. 
Horribly paraphrasing Stephen Covey in “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, there are 4 categories of stuff we have to do.

1. Important and urgent.

2. Important but not urgent.

3. Not important but urgent.

4. Not important not urgent.

Rumor has it we compile list #3 a lot whether on paper or in our heads. Put “I must, need or have to” in front of any of your (my) list items and it changes everything. It adds urgency where it may not be necessary. That’s being pretend busy.
And that leads to being so-stressed out, it’s no longer acceptable to be simply stressed, we need to be so-stressed.
At what point did being super busy or highly stressed become such a sought after human condition? When did we become inundated with talking about all the stuff we have to do ? Wouldn’t it be better to take the time spent mulling over our busyness and read Mad Magazine on the couch for a few minutes?
Don’t get me wrong. There are times I like making mountains out of molehills. I do that so others will feel sorry for me. They will cut me some slack for not completing my to-dos. The thing is they didn’t make up the list, I did. 
Satya (saht-ya) the second Yama, is truthfulness. Be truthful to ourselves and others. 
You: “I am so stressed out, I have so much to do before the weekend.”
Me (not practicing Satya): “I hear you!”

My reply intimates that I am as stressed and as busy as you.  No way I’m going to admit that I’m looking forward to an afternoon with Georgia on the sofa. If you’re busy I am too. So I’m not being truthful.
Remember yoga is not just a physical practice, it’s a mental one. It takes practice to hone down our lists and focus on what is really important. Cut yourself some slack and redo your to-do list. What’s really important? What’s really urgent? Be truthful. What must you do today and what do you get to do today?

New list:

Breath in.  Breath out. Repeat.

Namaste- Georgia and I are lying on the porch today!

What’s the buzz?

Alexandra LangstaffLeave a comment

 

IMG_0703 Dharana

The peepers are out today, chirping away.  Are those crickets too or is it white noise again, the steady buzzing in my head.

I heard this sound 3 years ago and decided it was OM, the sound of the universe talking to me. It wasn’t. It’s tinnitus. I know some people have a terrible time with this condition but I don’t. Most likely because I like pretending that it is indeed the universe talking to me.

Last week I went for my annual ear appointment to see if my mild hearing loss was changing. It’s not like I’m all that concerned nor do I notice.

Me: “I have an audiologist appointment today.”

Honeybun: “When is it?”

Me: “What?”

Getting your hearing tested is fun. You sit in a booth with big headphones and lift a finger every time you hear a sound. I decided that I was going to put all of my yogic powers of concentration towards improving my hearing. I was going to focus.

The “hoot” sound moved from ear to ear.

Me: “Wow, that sounds like an owl. Wouldn’t it be cool if each tone was the start of a bird song. I can name that bird in one note! That would be so impressive. Actually an owl sounds like “who cooks for you”.  Bear hoot.”

I got so involved in my inner dialogue that I ignored the new “ping” sound. I have no idea how many seconds passed before I realized I was no longer lifting my finger at anything. I almost stopped the session and asked for a do-over. My hearing loss is at the same level and so is the white noise. I’m okay with that.

Sometimes we hyper focus and miss all kinds of stuff. Sometimes we don’t focus and miss all kinds of stuff.

I was at the ATM depositing a check thinking about nothing really.

Me: “This is taking forever and what the heck is that beeping sound?”

Was I standing there for seconds? Minutes? I have visions of bank security reviewing video footage wondering why I took so long removing my debit card.

Staying focused isn’t easy. Dharana (dara-na) is the 6th limb of the 8 limb path of yoga. It’s training the mind to concentrate on one thing. The idea is to notice when concentration takes a wander and bring it back. It’s the beginning of meditation.

How often are we hyper focused or lacking focus physically or mentally? What are we missing out on? Can we practice listening to nothing?

Wait, what did I say?  I SAID NAMASTE!

 

Ma’am what is the nature of your emergency?

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Dee and I took a road trip to the next town up yesterday. It was sort of a bust because no shoes at TJMx, favorite sandwich shop closed, in fact most stores closed. What ever happened to the days where no one celebrated the Sabbath?
Driving down the main drag we noticed the lights in the windows of the cool dress shop. It was the only store open for blocks. Well it was and it wasn’t.
We walked in and it seemed a bit under lit but maybe the shopkeeper just arrived and was busy in the back. We browsed… and browsed…and browsed.
“Maybe she’s in the bathroom.”
“Yeah probably. Would you ever wear this?”
After about 10 minutes (maybe 15) it became evident that we were alone. 
“Maybe we should just go.”
“We can’t just go. Maybe I should call her.”
I looked up the store on my phone. Sure enough the web site said closed on Sundays. I called the number and we listened to the phone ring on the counter next to us and then listened to me leave a message.
“Uh we are here in your shop, the door was unlocked but I guess you are closed. Maybe I’ll call 911. Bye”
“Ma’am what is the nature of your emergency?”
“Well it’s not really an emergency, you see we are in this store…”
“Ma’am where are you?”
We couldn’t see any street signs and for some reason didn’t feel walking outside was an option OR looking at the address on the phone for that matter.
“Uh we are on a corner across from a bank. I think it’s Main Street and something.”
“Someone will be right down” Quite impressive considering the lame directions. We looked at jewelry and pocketbooks until the young officer arrived.
He took our names and asked how long we had been there.
“About 5 minutes or so”, that was sort of a lie.
We helpfully pointed out a closed door in the back that we assumed was the bathroom. He pounded on it and said “Anyone in there, this is the city police”. He was kind of loud so we didn’t know whether to laugh or be alarmed.
As he went on his rounds we kept browsing. 
“Maybe she’ll give us a free outfit for being good citizens. What would you pick out?”
She arrived and thanked us. We were allowed to go. No free gifts.
“Did I steal anything? I sort of feel like I did.”
“You mean something like this cute necklace?” (Kidding)
An hour later we saw the same policeman in the nearby mall as I pulled out of the parking spot.
“Is he following us?”
“Wait! I don’t have my seatbelt on.”
“Hey me neither and look I’m smoking a joint!” (Kidding)
I dropped Dee off and then called Mom to tell her of our adventure. I spoke with her earlier in the day so all I had to do was say “Redial” 
The robot voice speaking from the radio said
“Redialing 911”
“NO…CANCEL…HANG UP…OH MAN”
It did.
Asteya means non-stealing.  (Uh-stee-yuh) It is one of the Yamas, how we relate and behave in the world. 
What if we were bad guys? We easily could have pocketed something. I wonder how things might have turned out if it was a candy store.
You never know when your actions or inactions will change the course of someone’s day. 
We saved the day, Namaste.