I love it when life drives home a point. Upon seeing my frustration concerning my lack of accomplishment on my to-do list of reading, writing, and french, my wise wifey reminded me to focus on one thing versus the forty things I was currently trying to focus on each day. Unaware of my slow slide back into the hamster wheel mindset, I was writing in my head while reading, thinking of French while writing, blah, blah, blah, blah...and not doing any of these things well. Two weeks of feeling as if progress was eluding me, was soon replaced with a productive mindset once again. She's one smart cookie, that wifey of mine, and I'm more grateful every day.
In part of my catch-up readings, Shambhala Sun, I saw clearly, how my life had quickly cluttered, and I could feel it in my level of exhaustion. It's time to slow down and be in the present moment once again. I am always so shocked at the clarity of mind that sweeps in once I slow myself down...again. Had I rushed through a checklist, not taking the time to let my readings sink in, I would have missed such beautiful words to live by.
There is a video that went viral a few months ago, (I haven't seen it yet) of Professor George Saunders convocation speech at Syracuse University. In his speech, he spoke of kindness. In May's edition, (I told you I was behind!) he is interviewed in-depth. Because I was so moved my his words, I'll share some of them with you here. Forgive the length, but it is certainly worthy of some thought.
A longtime Western Buddhist was meeting with a famous old lama for the last time. The master beckoned the student to approach. The student cam close, figuring he was going to receive the master's pithiest and most secret instruction. The master whispered his final teaching: "Be kind."
SS: Many people fee that we live in a dangerous world, and we can't afford to let our guard down.
GS: ...people say to me, in general I agree with you about kindness, but what about Hitler, what about terrorists? I think we've been misled...by this idea that we always have to be girding our loins for the next big showdown with somebody or other... Ninety-nine percent of the time if you just do your best to be kind, you're better off. It's the basic things, like trying to have good manners, keeping your assumptions about the other person a little open, being willing to revise your opinion. The times when you're asked to do something about Hitler are pretty few and far between.
I keep in mind that quote from The Philadelphia Story: "The time to make up your mind about other people is never."
SS: Perhaps it's all a self-fulfilled prophecy. We live in an unkind world because we believe it's an unkind world.
GS: ...if you go out into the world ready for confrontation, then confrontations find you. If you go out with a sort of diffusing energy, the world reads that and feels more friendly toward you. So I think there's a circular effect.
Nobody's the boss and the situation is unstable. There's no fixed point. When I think of life that way, it sums up the proper level of mercy and tolerance. We really don't know what's going on, so our feeling of sympathy or empathy is related to our mutual lostness. [interconnectedness]
Yesterday, this was exemplified. Even though I am often fed-up with corporate America, I do truly enjoy (most of) the customers that I see on a regular basis. One such customer exemplified this connectedness by bringing me a six pack of Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat yesterday. I talk with him and his friends regularly and I enjoy finding connection points with my customers. Our connection point happens to be beer. As I thanked him and told him I appreciate the kind thought, he said he tries to find ways of showing kindness to those with whom he crosses paths. These simply choices make the difference; this is what it's all about.
Cheers!
No comments:
Post a Comment