Mental Workouts

I can honestly say that I find it easier to hike to the top of a mountain or ride my bike 70 miles than to do a mental workout. I tried the other morning, on my deck, watching the sun rise across the river....blue skies, mountains, birds....heaven. I plunked down all intent on 20 minutes of gentle thoughts and feeling the freshness wash over me...

OK...I feel so much better....surely that was at least 20 minutes, right? I looked at my watch... 4 minutes and 46 seconds....sigh....this is hard!

Then I felt agitated....I mean....I have STUFF to do and this is hardly burning up any calories. Good Lord....OK,...eyes close...here we go....

.....rolls and flows of angel hair, ice cream castles in the air, feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at clouds that way...la la la la la

Am I supposed to sing? Where's the instructions?? Can I drink coffee while doing my mental workout?

So, the mental workout, like the physical, is an ongoing process, one that will enhance our capacity to be more grounded, centered, to live in loving kindness and to become deeper aware, spiritually, pyschologically, mentally. It is vital to warding off stress and truly flourishing in our humanness. I have an easier time focusing on peace and nothingness when I am hiking, when I am in nature. I truly believe my daily hikes have helped so much with keeping me from getting too stressed during this difficult time in (most) of our lives.

I have commited to watching the sunrise, from my deck every beautiful morning this spring and summer and not feeling like I have to RUSH off to the gym, until after BOB (big orange ball) makes his grand debut, every morning. ;-)