Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh  (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Understanding I don't understand my eldest child. I try. I ask. I beg for input to help me figure out how they want to be treated and how I can best motivate them to do things I want them to do.  And they tell me, as best they can, but I never quite clicks for me. I never quite get it. And I know I have caused harm because I don't understand. Keep trying. Keep trying. Keep trying. Keep trying. They're worth it.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh  (ed. by Melvin McLeod), The Energy of Love To be loved, I must first love. To love others, I must first love myself. To love all, I must first love one. Then I must love myself, and another, and all.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh  (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Hugging Meditation There are so many moments in my every day when I can be present, be mindful, and get more out of life. How the hell did I let hugs become a commonplace copy clone, make-em-by-the-millions, repetitive habit that doesn't mean what it can mean?

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Mindfulness of Consumption --- --- Find, accept embrace, encompass. Let it pass through... Until only I remain.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. By Melvin McLeod), Taking Care of Your Anger The analogy of the air conditioner slowly changing a room's air works for me. I really see what Thich Nhat Hanh is getting at here. And sorely needed was the admonition to be patient with long-standing, deep-seated angers, those with whom acceptance is glacial. Ive been trying in my reflections and meditations each day lately to lean away from the battle oriented mindset I call usual, to the change through acceptance mindset present by Thich Nhat Hanh. I like it because, much like my principle of putting things positively if possible, it recast the whole process into one of cooperation and working together. If I can learn to do this with myself, it will make it easier to do the same with others.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Weathering Strong Emotions  Premeditatio malorum. Buddhists do it, too. If I practice for trouble, I prepare myself, gathering and examining a plan of action. When the time comes, maybe I still panic. But, if I am going to weather the storm, knowing a good path to take, a next step already decided, will make it much easier.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh  (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Weathering Strong Emotions We tend to identify with our emotions. I am sad. I am angry. I am frustrated. Not 'I feel ' this way or that, even though we can obviously express it . In the moment, it's easy to forget that this passion does not actually consume me. I am not an avatar of anger. I am still the whole me, with dreams and regrets, plans and memories, work and play, and a deep and abiding need not to drive into an 18-wheeler because I am temporarily thwarted. Reminding myself of this gives me another opportunity to improve my skills at navigating life. And another way to help my family improve theirs.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh  (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Weathering Strong Emotions I try to exemplify Stoic teachings for my kids, though I'm not nearly as successful as I wish I were. Beyond showing, when I try to  talk  with them about Stoicism, they sometimes offer the same pushback many others do when initially evaluating Stoic methods: they fear that not giving in to their emotions means never having any joy or happiness. Why (how) can a Stoic love someone without emotions? Is it really love if, when they hurt me, I don't wail and weep and rend my sackcloth?  How can I be happy without emotions? Happy is an emotion, right? Gotcha! How can life without emotions have value? Only transcendent joy can motivate me! It seems that people are afraid that life would become an endless, boring grey slog, empty of everything other than some weird, never-ending  meh . While not painful  per se , it turns out to be worthless because giving up...

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Blocks and Knots Accept the feeling. Let it enter. Get to know it. Get to know its roots. Things I don't understand can scare me, so if I grok the issue and do nothing else , I've already negated some its power over me. I've already assuaged some of the pain or guilt or anger or  anxiety or  embarrassment or envy or attachment. Let me know them that I may bring them in where they no longer oppose me.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Roots An examined life. Awareness, gifted from mindfulness, can stop a cycle or a chain of events. I can find and scrutinize my habits. I can delve into them and see their seeds for what they are: a thoughtless life. Thoughtfulness needs be my guiding light. Awareness, my principle. Mindfulness, my Tao. With these, following Nature and doing the next right thing will move closer to reality.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), The Second Arrow Who, by worrying, can add an hour to their life? (Is that quote right? It's certainly close.) My mom always quoted her grandmother, "Don't borrow trouble." While sometimes about not getting involved in other people's matters, it often means the same as that other Bible quote, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." There's stuff going on right here, right now, that I could be present at if I stop worrying about X and Y and Z. There's a chance for me to be mindful — and thus a part of my own life rather than another night on autopilot — if I but take it.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh  (ed by Melvin McLeod), Appropriate Attention Indeed. I can be mindful now. I can be present now. I can change the situation. I can change my judgement of it, and change my world.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed by Melvin McLeod), The Wounded Child Inside Mindfulness recognizes the wounded child inside. Accepts them. Embraces them. Holding them until we find the roots of pain . . . and find relief. Mindfulness brings with it concentration, the ability to focus on one thing. This brings with it the opportunity for insight, a deeper understanding of the issue. I have done mindfulness well at times. I'm still waiting for the concentration. It will come. And the insight. It will come.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Right Path Happiness is only possible when I stop running.  Happiness is only possible when I cherish the moment. Happiness is only possible when I cherish who I am. I don't need to be someone else. I am already a wonder of life.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Right Path Happiness means I am on the right path every moment. Happiness means I am on the right path every moment. Happiness means....  What a good way to look at it. I'm happiest when I do right. When I am kind and helpful and generous and loyal or comforting and patient and empathetic and kind. When I do good I feel good.

Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Smile of the Bodhisattva ----- I wish I'd known this when my dad died. Not that I could have achieved it, but at least I would have had something to aim for while I stayed by his side, trying to help him. I know he was afraid. The best man Ive ever known and he was afraid.