Gratitude with a side of toast
Like many people I think it is important to find time each day to be quiet, still and fill my spirit with gratitude. And like many people, I find it extremely difficult to find this time, and when I do, I find it even more difficult to quiet my mind.
However, a few weeks ago I discovered that while waiting for my toast to pop up so I could smear on honey and hurry on my way to the gym, that I was pacing my kitchen floor. I was thinking and sometimes saying out loud "why does my toaster take so long... I have to buy a faster toaster... doesn't my toast know I want to hurry up and go work out."
Suddenly it dawned on me. It takes three minutes for my bread to toast...three whole glorious minutes. I sat down. I closed my eyes and focused on my breath, and I was grateful.
POP! Thank you toast.
Do you carve out time for quiet and gratitude? Where do you find it?
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An attitude of gratitude
MY NOW AND ZEN KITCHEN
It happened accidentally,
the day I reached below the sink for a dishwasher “tablet” and found
the box empty. Dang! I had a washer full of sticky, dirty plates,
guests coming for dinner, and no time to run to the store.
So I washed all those dishes by hand, and in the midst of it, I
realized several things. One was that the job was done in 20 minutes
rather than running an hour’s worth of electricity and gallons of water
through the dishwasher. That’s good for my electric bill and good for
the environment.
The other was that in those few minutes I wasn’t thinking about the
mortgage, the election, the price of gas, or where I needed to be the
next day. I was focused only on feeling the plate in my hand, enjoying
the sensuality of soapy water on my skin, and the “wax on, wax off”
aspect of washing, rinsing, and wiping dishes. That’s good for my
spirit, and good for my mind.
The zen teachers say the way to enlightenment is to “chop wood and
carry water.” Allowing my thoughts to ebb away while I concentrate only
on the task of washing the dishes reminds me daily that extraordinary
understanding comes from doing the simplest things with absolute focus.
And it’s helping to save the planet.
What's in your dishwasher?
Love it! Thank you Linda. I started looking at folding my laudry in much the same way. Now instead of dreading the pile, I look to it with a smile because it means quiet time for the soul.
Changing the sheets on my bed... Sweeping the floors... even the five minutes it takes to fill my car with gas... they are all opportunities for mental and spiritual rejuvination. Ain't it grand?
I do some of my most creative thinking when I'm driving. In fact I turn my Cellphone off when I'm driving because I don't like interuptions in the thought process.
Kudos to you, Duane - for the many creative thoughts you bring to us, and for leading the way in safety on the roads!
My gosh between the three of us I think we have come up with several hours of time each week (even each day) that we can spend for mental "refreshing" or creative thinking. It really isn't that hard when you make the commitment to do it.
Great ideas here... the morning shower is my quiet, thought filled time every day.
That's a great one, Matthew! The water washes away all but the good stuff!
Yes... a good cleansing for the mind and body. Perfect!
Some of my best thinking also comes in the shower... I also enjoy doing manual yard work for a bit of 'zen time.' Now you've got me anxious for warm weather when I will cut up and clear the tree that fell in a storm a couple months ago. Wonder what I'll be thinking about when the time comes...