Practice Makes Progress
It’s not hard to get swept up in thoughts about our future endeavors here at Empty Mountain. Starting as rustically and bare bones as we have, it’s relatively easy to think things like: Ooo, I can’t wait until our cabin has siding and interior walls! and Things will be so great when we get some small huts built for folks to stay in and a meditation hall and better access into other parts of our property and better walking trails…
If one isn’t careful, a lot of energy could go into visioning for the future, at the expense of what’s available and happening and present in the here & now. It’s a practice, to be sure.
Breathing in, I am aware I am getting swept off into the future
Breathing out, I practice coming back home to myself in the here & now
Considering we’re greenhorns at living off–grid without running water, I’d say we’re doing darn well. What is it they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day? When I allow my thoughts to drift off for too long into the future, I start feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Ahhh, there’s so much to do and not enough hours in the day! I know you know what’s that like. We’ve all been there. My practice is to: take notice of when I’m lingering in the future (visiting is fine, but it’s when I linger that I get myself into trouble); gently call myself back to the present moment; ground myself in what’s going splendid & well right now, and perhaps take a moment to delight in the progress we’ve made and the actions we’re currently doing.
Will it be nice to have siding on our cabin and interior walls & floors? Absolutely! Am I looking forward to the day when I don’t feel like we’re living in a construction zone? Yes!! And, right now, we have everything we need. We have shelter from the elements, with dope insulation to keep us well-protected from the heat & cold. We have temporary living systems set up inside our cabin to make meals and dispense water, and places to sit and a bed to sleep in. We’re not in a state of lack, which is something I remind myself often, especially when I’m running off too far into the future, or starting to compare our situation to someone else’s (which, by the way, is never a good idea).
I’ve named one part of my multi-faceted personality The Make It Happen Captain. And it’s this gal who wants to magic up some serious action around here. There’s a place and time for her energy, believe me, but I’m more interested in ratcheting her down a little bit. Between you and me, she has the tendency to be a handful when left unchecked.
Slow & steady. That’s what we’re about here at EM. It’s rather funny to me when people comment on certain posts on our EM Facebook page: You guys are making such fast progress! I don’t mind telling you, boots on the ground, it doesn’t feel fast. But then, things always look different from afar. Still, I try to let those comments sink, because the thing is, we are making darn good progress. And when it comes down to it, in my view, as long as I am continuing to nourish my practice and grow in skillfulness as a human being, the rest will go as it flows.