March 2009
26 posts
An Isabella Poem
The Feeling of Comfort Comfort is light blue Like the sky on a clear day And also like a day at the beach. It embraces my mind It reminds me of the crisp scent of fresh linen. It makes me feel content, like a small child with no worries It makes me want to share the feeling with everyone.
Sunday Afternoon
Good bell choir rehearsal, I was told I looked like a Creamcicle in my orange sweater. Bella came by later and said I looked like orange sherbert. Interesting, I went to the grocery store and bought some ice cream.
Friday in the home office
I’m sitting here with one foot out the door for one project and one foot in the door of the next. I’m looking at comps from the new gig and answering questions about restricted access to data for the old. Drum lessons in the afternoon, Bella here in the evening, Ma comes by tomorrow. Bell Choir rehearsal on Sunday. A busy weekend for sure
Something is changing
I’m not sure if it’s a sense of mellowing with age - or a new understanding of life in general, but I’m getting the sense of my place in the world. In that - its something like - all things don’t have to change to be acceptable to MY way of thinking - or going in MY direction. There is a pleasant understanding that lots of things are what they are and cannot be expected to dance around my own...
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, “Transforming Problems into...
Every time a problem arises, the essential thing is to immediately become aware that the problem comes from our selfish mind, that it is created by self-cherishing thoughts. As long as you put the blame outside yourself, there can be no happiness.
Bruce Lee Wisdom
1. What are you really thinking about today?
“As you think, so shall you become.”
Perhaps the most basic statement of how we work. Think about what you are thinking today. What do those thoughts say about you? About your life? And how well do they really match your plans for your life and your image of yourself?
It’s easy to forget abut this simple statement in everyday life. It’s easy to be...
Early in the morning
Back up again and at it in the same seat - kitchen table - on the computer - coffee in hand - part of me saying this has to end soon - part of me realizing that it is ending soon.
Invitation
I received an unexpected invitation to live on the temple grounds. It has been a very interesting conversation with Swami as well as an interesting thought process with me.
Funny, how it exactly corresponds to the reality of asking Darlene to move into the house here on Boucher. Regardless of the outcome - it signifies some very important things in my life. And I’m very happy, blessed and...
Me and My Bud
Mark: hey man Mark: you get the foo Matt: you mean the bar? Mark: nah Mark: fighters Matt: not really Mark: how come? Matt: nothing happens Matt: falls flat Matt: strange Mark: what? Mark: what falls flat Matt: the music Mark: can you see the page? Matt: the page? Mark: don’t like the tunes, you mean? Mark: too raucous for you Matt: its not that i don’t like it Mark: rowdy Mark:...
Went to chuch today
A very nice service. It made me think about the book I read in college - The Psychology of the Beatitudes. I don’t remember the specifics of that book, but remember its cover and author like it was yesterday.
Interesting - when you look at the word beat itudes - Hey, Jack Kerouac
Blessed are the poor in spirit….
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, “The Door To Satisfaction”
“Happiness and suffering come from your own mind, not from outside. Your own mind is the cause of happiness; your own mind is the cause of suffering. To obtain happiness and pacify suffering, you have to work within your own mind.”
Bhagavad Gita 3:25-26
“The ignorant work for their own profit, Arjuna; the wise work for the welfare of the world, without thought for themselves. By abstaining from work you will confuse the ignorant, who are engrossed in their actions. Perform all work carefully, guided by compassion.”
Homeless in Baltimore
I passed a homeless person in Baltimore - sign in hand, yesterday. I thought I should give her something, but she was across the median. I drove a bit down MLK Blvd and came to another stop. This time a homeless man, again with sign in hand. I found myself not able to look at him directly and the feeling of giving vanished. And it vanished to the point that I could not look at him. I...
Thich Nhat Hanh, “Miracle of Mindfulness
I like to walk alone on country paths, rice plants and wild grasses on both sides, putting each foot down on the earth in mindfulness, knowing that I walk on the wondrous earth. In such moments, existence is a miraculous and mysterious reality.
People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to...
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 1:15-16
Freedom is that triumphant state of consciousness that is beyond the influence of desire. The mind ceases to thirst for anything it has seen or heard of; even what is promised in the scriptures.
And supreme freedom is that complete liberation from the world of change that comes of knowing the unbound Self
Meeting with Adam
I just met with Adam to discuss the SOA project and history. Again, I find myself not having the words available to discuss the goals of the project. He made it clear, that as a teacher, he’s forced into objective based outcomes. What is it that I want the user to take away from the experience. I need to work on the elevator description.
Christmas Eve
Its worth a try. Ari is singing in the background. Take a load off your mind. Really nice stuff. Another holiday party, another relaxed time with Dar - being serious and then goofy in the same moment. She’s tired I take the wheel, drive a few minutes and she offers to take the wheel back. Talk about serious affection. I’m short breathed most of the time these days, afraid to say it out loud to...
Christmas Day
I’ve got Krishna Das playing on the big speakers. Hari Om. Christmas Day, waking up in an empty house is a strange thing. No outward signs of the holiday here - but that’s not to say its not recognized. Lots of things lately to stop and make me wonder. People with loving thoughts and smiles. Little kids in the back of cars, waving as they pass. Long forgotten friends commenting on my facebook...
Back from Jersey
I’m back home after a nice visit to see the family in New Jersey. A great ride up Christmas Day with the kids. Each of us tuning in and out of conversations and ipod mania. Zencasts have been my salvation these days. Tortured moments move to quiet times, realizing that I’m fighting my ego much of the time when the bad clouds roll in. Its been a real experience - everything changing on different...
One more start
Yesterday was probably the last quiet day at the office for a while. Nobody was around, I got a few things off my list and added a great many more to the list. Planning everything inside OmniFocus - transfering the GTD google doc into repeating items in OmniFocus, adding Jira tickets and next steps into there as well. We’ll see how that goes. Nobody is here today.
Dar on vacation - kids with...