Hanna Cooper

Life's weather

Living in Minnesota, my husband likes to quote the Norwegian saying "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." 

While it's not been much of a typical winter here (or anywhere) this year, this saying gave me a shift in perspective when I first heard it. 

Can't do much about the weather; can put on clothes that allow you to be out in it.

It's an analogy that can translate to our lives as well.  Jon Kabat-Zinn teaches about how our interpretation of life's experience can be like the weather.  Being able to see our emotions and opinions about our experience as storms or temporary showers that will blow by, rather than getting swept away in a torrent that we've created, can allow us to actually experience what is real in the present moment.

Life's weather will come and go, regardless of our opinion or desires.  We can choose how we want to be in it - collar turned up, head down, bearing the brunt of it - or prepared, aware and observant, dry inside our good clothing.

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How do you choose to experience life's weather?

Loving-kindness

On this day of candy hearts, here's my real valentine to you, my friends in the blogosphere: one of my favorite meditations, from Jack Kornfield's book "A Path with Heart: A guide through the perils and promises of spiritual life".

May I be filled with loving-kindness.
May I be well.
May I be peaceful and at ease.
May I be happy.

The directions:

Recite these inwardly directed towards yourself.  You start with yourself because without loving yourself it is almost impossible to love others.  You can picture yourself as a young and beloved child, or sense yourself as you are now, held in a heart of loving-kindness.  Let the feelings arise with the words.  Adjust the words and images so that you find the exact phrases that best open your heart of kindness.  Repeat the phrases again and again, letting the feelings permeate your body and mind.  Practice this meditation until this sense of loving-kindness for yourself grows.

When you feel ready, you can gradually expand the focus to include others: a benefactor (someone who truly cared for you), friends, community members, neighbors, people everywhere, animals, the whole earth, and all beings.  You can even experiment with including the most difficult people in your life, wishing that they too be filled with loving-kindness and peace.

From my heart to yours: may you be filled with loving-kindness, may you be well, may you be peaceful and at ease, may you be happy.

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How could including "loving-kindness" impact your work to make a difference?