In recent weeks, Its becoming quite evident that I was expected
to create something with my free time.
This is called social indoctrination.
In early age we are given ideas and attitudes about what we
should be doing and the mold is set.
These first two weeks of September I am noticing
art projects that I made as a child.
This string art piece was from the late sixties.
My father would go to Chicago each Tuesday to see his therapist.
It was a two hour train ride from the town I grew up.
As he would stop at a Chicago Deli and
bring home all kinds of delightful foods, then go to Old town
to his favorite bookstore for books on Asian philosophy,
and then the art store to find the latest kits for me 🙂
I loved it. Little did I know that that was the start
of the habit that formed me.Pantanjali wrote about the Sutras, a word in Sanskrit
that means sutures or stitches.
From string to twine to cord to rope it’s the habits,
the addictions that binds us.
Like the string art, each strand, each layer
each time we do a repetitive behavior
it binds us to this behavior.
Some habits are better than others. There are eating,
drinking, working, sexting, now phone addictions.
Addiction switching is inevitable unless we are aware of it.
This is where we resolve a problematic behavior
and re-route the same behavior towards
other areas of our lives. Same pattern, different fixation.
This does not address the feelings driving the
addictive behavior.
This requires a lot of awareness, self-honesty
and accountability.
If we want to create habits pick good ones.
Meditation twice a day helps us to realize
the strings that bind us.
Pantajali says with each practice we clip a strand
until we are free from the binding effects of addiction.Take a tip from my pops. Read a book, Do art.
See a therapist if you are struggling,
Meditate and join our group.
Thanks Meg Reynolds for your insights
9. 15. 2024 Deck Talk available upon request info@fifthfloormeditation.com