My Time for Reflection

The snow falls in the early morning and I sit near the wood stove.  I am at liberty to read, write, and reflect on my life and surroundings.  Much of my life - as with many Americans - is fast forward - with little time to decompress.  But I am responsible for filling my schedule with one project after the next because I am interested in so many things.  Yet I take liberty in the months of January and February when our UpState NY environs are cold and frigid.  I still go outdoors - in fact at any given time - I 'm milking a goat, walking dogs, grooming horses, feeding chickens, looking after a herd of 20 bucks and does - plus working off the farm.

Oh but in the winters,  I love to write as I am doing right now and read - and take stock - try to place some order in my life.

There's no telling anyone that life is short - we all experience it one way or another be it a close friend, relative, pet, or our own mortality.  Yet, as I reflect on impermanence - I need to be careful, as this is not a positive reflection for me.  I'd rather ponder and strive for what I believe to be the brightness of my actions and legacy.  Planting trees, fruits, and vegetables without taxing the Earth, preserving land, caring for animals, working to care for the elderly and sick, being kind to neighbors, watching my own and my mate's physical fitness, and being a source of inspiration for young people.  What more can I do in a lifetime.

Last night I read about the 5 "human" poisons (distraction, aversion, ignorance, craving, conceit) and the antidote to them.  Meditation such as mindfulness, empathy, impermanence, awareness will lead to wisdom.  Since I am not an intellect on Buddhist teachings I will not go further here but rather continue to read and learn!