Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Good Intentions


Do you ever feel like you're trapped in your day the moment you wake up? Like you can't quite grasp what it is you really want to do or accomplish, so you go through the motions of obligations or things you feel you should do? You spend most of the day with a vague sense that you're not really doing what you were meant to do, just what you're supposed to do.

Today was, for once, not one of those days. It easily could have been. I awoke feeling aimless and adrift. I got up and walked mindlessly down to the kitchen to let my dog out and observe the fresh blanket of snow that had been deposited overnight. Then I stared blankly out the kitchen window as I drank a glass of water, wondering if I would spend the entire day as I did the day before, unfocused and slightly dissatisfied, but not knowing why. And then it happened - a moment that shifted the trajectory of the entire day.

It was so simple. From my window, I spotted a neighbor's dog far off in the field next to our house. And he was absolutely delighting in the snow. He was alone and unattended, but completely immersed in running in circles and hopping around in the white fluff. His ears and posture were perked and eager, his tail wagged as he strutted about.

Suddenly, my day had intention again. Watching the dog for just a few moments reminded me of the essence of being. It was one of those rare glimpses, that seem to come so few and far between, of something akin to the meaning of life. How do we forget so easily? I set my glass down on the counter and ran upstairs to change. I knew I had to get outside and play, too.

So, I took the dog's lead and traipsed outside through the snowy woods with my dog and husband. We often venture out for morning walks or jogs, but because I had been given a lesson in intention, this morning felt different. I knew I needed to have this much intention each morning before I start slogging through the day.

Later, at my desk, I chanced upon an article by Christine Kane about the importance of having a morning ritual. I usually have somewhat of a routine in the morning and already do many of the things she suggests (yes, I do use a Neti Pot habitually), but have yet to make these things part of a ritual. So I took her advice and wrote out my morning ritual. Now I can begin each day with intention and focus, and not have to rely on the neighbor's dog to remind me!

I give thanks to that little dog for giving me these insights today. I have been so much more focused and happy ever since.

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Speaking of intentions, you can see that I haven't contributed to this blog since October. I've had "intentions" to, but have been thinking too much about my band of late. And I think that's a great way to spend my time. So more and more you will see posts specifically about The Hello Strangers, music, and creativity. These will eventually be linked and posted on our band site: www.thehellostrangers.com.

While you're at it, check out my friend Jamie's recent blog post about us!

9 comments:

Laura Mae said...

hey lady! i love this post. i need to make my neti pot a ritual for sure. i've been using it for 12 years but not EVERY single morning and i often think if i did i'd have a very happy and clear sinus cavity!

i miss you and love you bunches.

Robert Bastress said...

Thanks for sharing such a beautiful moment. What a great reminder to live fully with intention. Hope you and Ryan are having a magical day, and looking forward to the next "blanket" of snow!

Anonymous said...

My friend and I were recently discussing about how modern society has evolved to become so integrated with technology. Reading this post makes me think back to that debate we had, and just how inseparable from electronics we have all become.


I don't mean this in a bad way, of course! Societal concerns aside... I just hope that as memory becomes cheaper, the possibility of transferring our brains onto a digital medium becomes a true reality. It's a fantasy that I dream about all the time.


(Posted on Nintendo DS running [url=http://knol.google.com/k/anonymous/-/9v7ff0hnkzef/1]R4 SDHC[/url] DS BlogServ)

Larissa said...

Laura,
I love my neti pot! I know you've talked to me about your sinus problems. I wonder what it would be like if you used the neti every day! Might be worth trying :)
Next time you're in Hagerstown, check out my acupuncturist, Rob Bastress at Integrative Medicine Center off Eastern Blvd (he commented on this post). He and his staff are great! He might be able to help you with your sinus cavity as well!
xoxo,
Larissa

Larissa said...

Hey Rob,
I'm so glad to see you've read my blog! Hope to see you in at IMC soon!
Enjoy all the snow,
Larissa

Larissa said...

Hello Anonymous,
I think about how inseparable we are from electronics, as well. I try to think of them in the same way as people would have thought of other stimuli such as social gatherings with alcohol and carousing in the "olden days"...best consumed in moderation! I try to moderate my "intake" of electronics each day. But blogging is part of that intake, even as much as it is an output....it's a delicate balance.
Thanks for the comment,
Larissa

Hallie said...

Glad to see's ya back on the blog board babay! I am currently without ANY routine of ANY kind... running amuck feeling aimless, restless... like a rue American robot. Maybe this Netflix business I have recently discovered isn't enriching my life afterall. Tonight I shall turn it off, read my book, breathe deeply, sew, sip, engage.

Love you long time

Anonymous said...

hey. Great Blog you've got here. I've been tooling around trying to find some new information and I think i found it! Thanks a lot!

Larissa said...

Thank you Hallie and Anonymous,
It's always good to turn off and tune in, so to speak!
Though, I do love Netflix, too!