To whom it may concern,
You need to do some simple stretching. Your neck and shoulder will thank you.
My tiny world is quiet. I am finding space to read again. Whenever I buy a book, I am buying the aspiring version of myself – someone who reads hours at a time. Aspiration gives directions. The path of getting “there” will look much different than what I had in mind. It is safe to assume that I can read at 5-minute intervals here and there, rather than reading the whole book in one sitting, which is something I used to do often.
Expectations get me in trouble. When I expect things to be a certain way, I suffer. The root of suffering, according to enlightened masters, is attachment. When I am attached to what is pleasant, avert to what’s unpleasant, I bind myself to suffering instead of liberation. And liberation! My oh my. What a sexy concept! The ultimate drug to perfectionists alike. I don’t know about you. My bones want to be liberated.
So I am trying something new with my definition of what’s good. Having an easeful time isn’t necessarily good. Experiencing something unpleasant isn’t all bad. Let’s assume being aware of the state I am in is good. This opens me up to more of the bad (according to me) parts of life. Hence, I will have more lived experience of life, which is good in my eyes.
What I am cultivating is the ultimate attitude of ease. In a fancier term, equanimity. I think that’s where my relaxation lies. I want to feel relaxed with this thing called being a human.
My best friend and my worst enemy – my vivid imagination, stands in the way of my liberation. It has created better alternative realities – this is great for my art, terrible for my life. I don’t want to be a shell of an artist. I want to have a rich and healthy life filled with awe, beauty, adventure and love. Let’s throw joy in there because why not.
If that sounds good to you, try taking similar risks like me. You and I can do hard and easy things together.
Xoxo,
Xiaoyu
