On Mindfulness

Stuck in your own misfortune,
you are torn at every decision.
Each careless action for following frustration.
This frustration a blemished seed of flowering affliction.

Stay there a while now
in your wound wide open.
For it is yours and no one elses.

Do not scratch at it's irritation,
for the itch
is medicine in motion
and in the tamerping will only the wound worsen.

Be mindful and take great care,
For in your patience will favor bring fortune.

Have you ever had a bad day with one bad thing happening after the other? In my work, I take care of a three year old toddler. When something disrupts his balance, everything just seems to fall apart around him. He can go through smooth day after smooth day until one thing goes wrong and catches him off-guard. In his frustration and anger he takes less care with his actions that follow. He stubs his toe, falls to the ground, and knocks over the cereal bowl. His carelessness brings misfortune.

Take another example, I was leading a backpacking trip with another young woman. She had just finished leading one trip and she signed up for another with only a day in between. Things seemed to be falling apart around her and she also became ill. She had overloaded herself and in her tire, she lost focus. At one point as she was hiking, she felt her back damp. She checked her bag and discovered her pack soaking wet. Why? She didn't tighten the cap on her camel back well enough. Although she was able to laugh at the little things, physically and emotionally her body was spent and it continued to send signals of distress.

Now, isn't it true that if we take great care in our actions we cultivate fortune? If we make our decisions from a place of love, kindness, generosity and balance, won't we live more fulfilling and happier lives? When I say happier, I mean living a stress free life, in harmony with the things around us (the everything we are connected to).

I suspect that the apple tree takes great care in its creation of the apple blossom.

This applies not only on an individual basis but it also applies to entire societies and to the evolution of humanity itself.

It is not limited to seconds, hours or days. It can span over a lifetime as well as generations. Our careless actions now only breed an unfortunate future. However, do remember that you have the power to transform your fortune by being mindful.

We never know where our actions might take us, but if they are made from a mindful place, rest assured that you will be taken care of.

Though we are bound by the laws that govern matter and light, we create the the lives we live. Take great care and embrace your freedom.