Coming to Ground

It’s a Sunday morning in Singapore and I awoke with the sense of coming back to an authentic self. Jet lag mysteriously already gone, my dizziness switch turned off, the body in some blessed state of homeostatic equilibrium and the mind happily free to wander through its own appointed regions. These things are rarely a simple “cause and effect,” and yet, doing the right things and making the right choices does make an impact. Like what I did yesterday, for example. 

 

1)   Wandered the new neighborhood a bit to get to see what’s here and begin the day with some two miles of walking in fresh air.

2)   Swam a vigorous 600 strokes in the hotel’s lovely 7^th- floor-with-a-view pool, then sat by poolside with a Crostic puzzle and my book.

3)   Skipped lunch and walked down Alexandra Road to the Labrador Nature Reserve, a lovely park by water’s edge. 

4)   Did not listen to my story on Audible on my phone, but instead, listened to the bird life, noticed the plants and trees, let my thoughts freely roam without interruption from other’s music or stories. 

5)   Discovered a lovely little place with Japanese bean cakes and a friendly owner and then a vegetarian restaurant next door— Pad Thai and a barley drink for $8 U.S.

6)   Returned to the hotel having walked 7.8 miles and decided to swim 180 more strokes for some 780/7.8 harmonious connection. Sat at poolside watching birds dive and dip briefly in the pool where no one was swimming, wrote in my journal and felt myself closing with the day.

7)   Back to the hotel room and my little project of organizing the list of where I’ve taught the past 30 years (not counting the U.S.) and how often I have returned to places to teach. For the city’s record, Salzburg was first with 22 visits, Toronto 18, Madrid 14. For countries, Canada was first with 42, Spain, 37, Austria 28. More important than the numbers game was sparking of memories of each of those courses, who I was, who was with me, what I was feeling then. A slow motion “traveling-music-teacher-life-flashing-before my-eyes” that brought back the full measure of blessings of my life choices and great gratitude.

8)   Read my book, go to sleep and (miraculously), sleep through the night.

 

Naturally, this is more a reminder to self than a list for others, but the general principles hold true for all to consider. 

 

1)   Eat lightly and healthily. 

2)   Exercise, preferably in the open air. 

3)   Read and write. 

4)   Use phone sparingly and leave space for your own thoughts.

5)   Reflect on your life with gratitude. 

 

Another day awaits before the teaching begins. Back home is government violence and  murder alongside resistance to it all and it’s hard to know how much to let seep into my open heart. But I remember a line from the movie Bridge of Spies, where a character asked if he was worried about what was happening, answered, “Would it help?” When it does, open the doors wide. When not, choose the wisdom of the microdose and go deeper into your own beauty, power and celebration of life. Find the ways you can support others to do the same. That’s my work in this coming week of teaching. 

But first, another blessed day of wandering and wondering.