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Stop and Go

Stop and Go –

Ever feel like traffic lights are purposefully hindering your travel? Yesterday I attended an event in a city about an hour and a half from our house. I left early enough to still arrive on time if there was any trouble on the way. Fortunately, there were no accidents or incidents but it seemed as if every traffic light was red or turning red when I approached. It was frustrating! It all evened out on the way back because it was mostly green lights but then I didn’t have to be somewhere at a certain time.

The stop and go of driving is draining for me. You build up some momentum only to have it taken away by watching a green light turn yellow and then red. There’s the thought of speeding up when the light is yellow or ignoring a just changed red light but that’s how accidents happen. As my truck sits there at the light, my eyes focused, waiting for it to turn green I hear the voice of wisdom in my head; “The lights aren’t doing this on purpose. You have plenty of time. There’s no need to feel rushed. Don’t give into the frustration. Breathe Brian. Breathe.” Usually, I can catch myself before I lose it and was able to yesterday although it was close! I arrived at the event with plenty of time to spare. The day was not ruined by traffic lights. All was well.

Life is similar at times. We build up momentum to change a problem, overcome a difficulty, make progress on our journey of life, only to run into roadblocks, obstacles, and setbacks. It can be easy to give up and become negative and a malcontent. We must remember to breathe, that most hard times are followed by easier, less testing times. Life is a long road. As sojourners we hope for the best, plan for the worst and find our way somewhere in between.

For more posts, reflections and other writings, please visit: http://www.thewannabesaint.com

blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)

Posted in Mindfulness

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Stubbornness or Stillness?

Mar 22

Posted by thewannabesaint.com

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Stubbornness or Stillness?

This morning I had a meeting in Fayetteville, Tennessee. On my way, driving on country back roads I passed a Burro, standing by a fence. The other cows and critters in the pasture were nowhere near it but there it stood facing the morning sun. A few hours later I was returning home and passed the same Burro in almost the same spot as it was in earlier. It paid no attention to the automobiles coming and going or the other animals in the field.

As I watched the Burro I thought about its unwanted and unwarranted reputation of being resistant, refusing to obey, obstinately going its own way and doing its own thing. However, I did wonder; “Is he being stubborn or still?” I finally decided he was simply being still. He was facing the sun, he was on level ground, he wasn’t distracted.

I reflected on my day and my mental state and thought; “I long to be like the Burro; enlightened, sure-footed and mindful.”

blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com

Posted in Mindfulness

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Tags: #attention, #being, #blessings, #Burro, #comingandgoing, #decided, #distracted, #earlier, #enlightened, #facing, #Finally, #going, #itsownway, #later, #levelground, #long, #mentalstate, #mindful, #near, #nowhere, #obey, #obstinately, #ownthing, #paid, #passed, #reflected, #refusing, #reputation, #resistant, #returning, #same, #simply, #spot, #standing, #still, #stood, #stubbornness, #sun, #sure-footed, #thewannabesaint.com, #unwanted, #unwarranted, #watched, #way, #wonder, @BrianLoging, Driving, Home, Stillness, Thought

Driverless

Feb 18

Posted by thewannabesaint.com

Driverless –

Driverless automobile technology doesn’t seem like something that might happen but is happening and will impact all of us soon. I was listening to NPR this week and the person being interviewed said that everyone will have a driverless automobile by the year 2050. I’m not sure what the 70+-year-old will think but the 45+-year-old is skeptical. Maybe it’s the loss of control, maybe it’s watching too many sci-fi movies but driverless cars, trucks, semis zipping down the road all dependent on a group of engineers and designers seems too futuristic but it’s where we are going.

In my lifetime I’ve gone from record players to compact disc players to mp3 players which could hold 100 songs to my phone being able to play any tune I can think of at the press of an icon under a piece of glass. 30 years ago that would’ve been unthinkable so driverless cars are coming whether I am ready or not.

Life and its continuous change are shocking. Places we are now on the journey probably aren’t where we thought we’d be. Plans we thought were “set in stone” have been shattered and adjusting, accepting and letting go require more strength than we think we possess. There are days when we feel like we are steering our lives and other seasons when life keeps taking the wheel and driving to unknown and sometimes unwanted destinations.

blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com

Posted in Mindfulness

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Pardon the Interruption

Jan 12

Posted by thewannabesaint.com

Pardon the Interruption –

When my wife and I first moved up north we were aware there would be cultural differences that both the people we work with and we would need to get used to. For instance, down south we say we’re going to put something “in the hopper,” which means we’ll think about it. Up north, however, it has something to do with a commode. So, that was a phrase I stopped using. Another difference was people interrupting each other. It didn’t take long to notice, especially at meetings, that people would start talking before another person was finished. When this happened the person interrupted either returned the favor or waited for the interruptee to stop before they started up again. In the south, we might fake it but we at least acted like we were listening and waited for the person to finish before we began to talk.

I remember bringing this up at a meeting where people were talking all over each other. I stated the difference and perhaps if we waited, and listened until the other was finished, perhaps our meetings would be more productive and not last as long. It didn’t go over well. No one told me to get over it but the behavior never stopped and I never brought up the subject again.

This was about 10 years ago and I’ve noticed rudeness isn’t going anywhere. In fact, rudeness seems to be expanding at an incredible rate. From radio to tv, social media, family, friends, co-workers, people at grocery stores, arguing and not listening, folks stubbornly stating their point of view, driving haphazardly, everyone in a hurry and not caring who they offend to get their lists of to-do’s done. Even our president cusses, calls people names, makes fun and insults others. Rudeness is winning.

So, how do we stop rudeness from continuing to be the norm? My only answer is kindness, patience, being at peace and giving peace. It’s not about arguing a point but being what you hope others will become.

blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com

Posted in Mindfulness

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a Break

Dec 27

Posted by thewannabesaint.com

Image result for give yourself a break

a Break –

Today was the first appointment with my therapist since my father passed. We kept coming back to the theme; “It’s been a long month!” We talked about a lot of things which have happened, are happening and will happen. Responsibilities, experiences, the new normal of living life without dad and how these are impacting my chronic depression and severe anxiety. As we were wrapping up the session her words, her prescription for me was; “Give yourself a break.” In other words, take it one day at a time, don’t fixate on certain challenges, try not to do everything at once and breathe, keep yourself centered.

On the way home I was driving behind a person with a bumper sticker which read; “Of course I love you! Why wouldn’t I?” I received the message and took it to heart. We put such a demand upon ourselves to get things done, live up to expectations, not let anyone down, be what we believe we should be instead of simply accepting ourselves for who we are; imperfect people trying to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God and with each other.

blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com

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Tags: #accepting, #anxiety, #appointment, #behind, #believe, #blessings, #break, #bumpersticker, #centered, #certain, #challenges, #chronic, #course, #Dad, #day, #demand, #depression, #expectations, #experiences, #fixate, #give, #God, #happened, #heart, #humbly, #impacting, #imperfect, #instead, #keep, #liveup, #livinglife, #long, #mercy, #Message, #month, #newnormal, #normal. #new, #one, #otherwords, #passed, #prescription, #received, #Responsibilities, #session, #severe, #simply, #stay, #talked, #theme, #therapist, #time, #today, #walk, #way, #wrapping, #yourself, breathe, Driving, father, Home, Justice, love, People

Fuel

May 26

Posted by thewannabesaint.com

Fuel

This morning, on my way to speak to a group of men with addictions, I stopped by a gas station. Pulling in, the pump I was hoping to use was occupied, so I chose another one and began filling up. I looked over at the vehicle parked beside the other gas pump and noticed the woman sitting in her car talking on the phone. She had finished getting her fuel but hadn’t pulled out of the way for the next person. As I continued filling up, she completed her call and then began reading either a book or a magazine. Finished, I hopped in the truck and began pulling away from the pump, glanced over my shoulder and there the driver still sat, reading and taking up a space someone else needed.

Driving away I thought about traveling the road of life. There are times we need recovery, renewal, restoration of our emotions and spirits to continue our journey. During these pit-stops I hope to encounter folks who are as interested in; “refilling my tank” as they are in theirs and pray that I’ll return the favor.

blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com

Posted in Mindfulness

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Tags: #emotions, #encounter, #favor, #hope, #interested, #journey, #pit-stops, #pray, #recovery, #refilling, #renewal, #restoration, #roadoflife, #spirits, #traveling, Driving, Thought

The Secret to Life

Sep 20

Posted by thewannabesaint.com

When it comes to pet peeves most of us could open a zoo.

One of my driving p.p’s are folks who pull out in front of fast moving traffic and then go slooooooooooooooooooooooooow. It’s one that really makes me nuts, so I try to make sure not to be in the passing lane unless I’m, well, passing.

Last Sunday morning, driving on a beautiful stretch of highway, things on my mind, I was content with driving on the slower side. A truck, with a driver that wasn’t as blissful, came roaring up behind and flew past me and the other right laners.

A few moments later, and a little further down the way, a deer bolted out of the woodlands that hug the sides of the highway nearly missing the speeding truck. My first thought was, “see what happens when you’re in a rush, a hurry?” Almost as quickly as these ideas formed in my mind, another one of Bambi’s cousins hopped in front of me! Two deer, two drivers, two approaches to driving, two making adjustments to avoid an accident.

Wouldn’t it be nice if being mindful immuned us from these surprises? If a reflective way of life helped us avoid things that seek to wreck our journey?

However, there is no formula to a life that’s perfect and predictable. The secret to life is that there is no secret. Being thoughtful doesn’t equal the world thinking of others more. Seeking wisdom doesn’t mean other people are going to be more wise. A more relaxed you will still encounter those who are stressed out!

The sun is going to rise on the good and the bad, rain will fall on the just and unjust. Blessed and trying times affect us all and life refuses to be tamed.

Being purposeful, embracing inner stillness, will not keep dangers from darting unexpectedly onto the path we travel, but they can help us adjust to life’s surprises and bring the gift of mindfulness to others who we encounter along the way.

staying focused on the road,

bdl

Posted in Mindfulness

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Tags: #journey, #life, #wisdom, #zen, Driving, inner stillness, mindfulness, Passing lane, Pet peeve

Essentialist

Essentialist, contemplative, author, advocate, old soul

Blog Archives

Stop and Go

Stubbornness or Stillness?

Driverless

a Break

Fuel

The Secret to Life

Essentialist

Essentialist, contemplative, author, advocate, old soul

Blog Archives

Stop and Go

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Stubbornness or Stillness?

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Driverless

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Pardon the Interruption

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a Break

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