I'm so glad that I had time yesterday to ride to and around the lake. There's nothing like a quiet, ipod-free 13 mile bike ride alongside peaceful water to clear your head and get you pumped for the rest of the day. While I really enjoy this quite time to myself - going at my own pace, taking it all in without talking, explaining, pointing out the things I see - I should also probably invest in some mace if I'm going to keep this up... :)
On another note, but related to that bike ride along my ADD brainwaves, I'm working really hard to learn to love myself. To stay centered and present in the moment, to identify anxiety, fear, rejection, sadness, excitement, happiness, love, and others as I'm feeling them in my body. To say "hey you! I hear you, I feel you, I acknowledge that you are here and am going to look for what it is that's got you talking!" And to the less pleasant "managers" (most often, for me, anxiety and fear), I get to quiet them by paying attention. Since I'm almost a stranger to myself when it comes to being present within myself in the moment, I have to actively "check in" throughout the day. It's like a meditative break every hour or so just to pay attention to what's up.. Anyway - it sounds pretty hokey, but it's working well for me.
My bike ride yesterday was like an hour and a half long "check in" on steroids. It makes me consider a silent retreat in the near(ish) future. We fill up our lives with television, computers, movies, music, smart phones, games, talking, etc and all of those things are wonderful and I use almost all of them daily! But the next time you're in the car or exercising - try silence. Meditation, contemplative prayer, or "checking in" instead of an audio book, the radio, a phone call to friends & family, or your ipod. It's uncomfortable at first, but quickly becomes addictive. It's so rewarding to take back some time in the day just for yourself; to be present in the moment and pay attention.
Love to you all
Anne
Amen, Sister. It sounds like you are on the right path for such a young person. I was much further along in life before I realize the things that you've caught onto. My ADD requires a lot of physical activity to keep me in check and I feel so much better. Remember, and I quote myself, "I became ADD because my teachers/professors taught at such a slow speed and read text instead of having discussions that they bored the crap out of me...and I'm a visual learner which they never realized or considered".
ReplyDeleteThanks for that, Bill!
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