I’m on the plane out of LA heading home to Tulsa OK wondering just what it is that I can do to alleviate the aches and pains the world we live in suffers so much with. As someone who’s recovery from a variety of addictions, compulsions and short comings, the answer comes up “not much”.
There’s an old saying where I come from that states “grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
It’s a tough call. Once you get past the lies and bullshit from government shills and media sycophants, you’re faced with “we are truly fucked”. It’s so far gone where do you start? There’s so much information, entertainment and just plain noise it’s impossible for me to sort out.
What’s working for me is this. I take time to get better emotionally and spiritually with a dedicated mediation practice where if only for a few minutes, my mind isn’t besieged by all these daily distractions. Persistence pays off. I do not desire any rewards, degrees of enlightenment, have any expectations or win any bonus points in the hereafter. The point of meditation is to be present in this moment. My addict mind “needs” something else, someone else or somewhere else to feel happy. It’s all delusion. This grasping is the source of my anxiety, frustration and worry. I start thinking about the way I think it should turn out it makes me crazy. If perchance I do get what I want, I don’t want it!
What my mediation practice gives me is right now. My mind is not running as rampant, not as insistent on running down the street with every stray thought. While meditating, I’ll experience fear, anxiety and anger. I simply acknowledge these thoughts and let them go. What happens is this; in real life I’m less likely to act out in fear and anger.
What works is practice and patience. My ego’s been running the show most of my life, turning it around takes the rest of my life.
