A big challenge each day on the road is finding a place to blog. Most campsites don’t have cellular signal. In towns with signal, there’s the typical crowded cafe where the cacophony of clattering dishes, background music, and traveling families with loud kids surrounds me on all sides.
But yesterday, while hiking up a three-mile trail on Humbug Mountain on the Oregon coast, I came across a blogger’s dream: a comfortable wooden bench with plenty of signal and the kind of view that provides the space to think big thoughts.
I sat down and waited for inspiration. Maybe a poem about the mountains, the redwoods. the sea or the earth.
Instead, I found myself obsessing about something much more mundane — a daily to-do list. It’s a time of transition for me, and I’ve been looking for a way to balance everything that’s going on, everything I want to do and everything I have to do. How about a little poetry, I asked the part of my mind/soul that does the writing. Here’s your poem, came the answer. Pay attention to this list, and share it.
So here it is. And if you’re paying attention also, I invite you to comment and share your own list of actions for daily living. Maybe we can learn something from each other.
10 Actions for Daily Living
- Get up early.
- Thank God for the amazing gift of another day, and for your purpose here in this world. Ask for clarity about that purpose today.
- Drink some good tea (or coffee), the best you have, and write.
- Do what has to be done today. Keep the bills paid, the body healthy, the house in good shape. Keep your promises.
- Do what you’re here to do — your part in making the world better. Do it with all year heart.
- Get out. Connect with people. Connect with the earth. See what the world is saying to you today; see what you can learn. Embrace the mystery of what you don’t yet know, and leave the door ajar.
- Drink some tea in the late afternoon and read.
- In the evening, if you haven’t already done so, sit with Wendy, hold her hand, listen to her, give her a little massage, remind her of how much you love her.
- When you go to bed, check your heart for anger, let it go, and forgive every person at whom it is directed, whether they deserve it or not.
- We never know what tomorrow will bring, or if we will ever wake up again. Commend your body and soul to God’s care.
Thank you so much sweetheart.
Mine, a BIT tongue in cheek for that’s my way (the dozen just happened):
1. Get up late (at least it makes up for getting to bed too late), and read for a little while..
2. Have a plate full of a variety of fruits, especially melons and apples (my plate of gratitude)
3. Check and sort my e-mail, and get lost in those that catch me, ensuring that those priority projects I wanted to address would be a priority tomorrow.
4. Once ready to address the priorities or those e-mails I’ve set aside as of interest, break for a protein lunch, highlighted by a veggie dog.
5. Prepare a cup of coffee and an assortment of VERY small bits of a variety of sweets that go with coffee, to address the priorities and fun stuff (for the sweetness of life)
6. Do some doings, like this.
7. Stretch while viewing a few minutes of PBS Newshour
8. On alternate days, but not Shabbat, jog or swim, digging down to unravel project or life puzzles while betaking of life..
9. Veg out on the ALL: steam a plate FULL of a variety of fresh veggies, while seeing the rest of the PBS Newshour, and then a dim sum of prepared veggie leftovers with a documentary or other favorite TV program and a newspaper or magazine.
10. Special treats: have a root beer float with butter pecan ice cream for dessert, with an apple chaser.
11. Read for a little while, enjoying others’ perspectives.
12. Quickly and peacefully fall asleep thinking of a still unsolved project puzzle, and dream my lose connections.
Shlomo brother,
Thanks for the smile! 🙂
Wishing you much enjoyment from both the veges and the root beer float!
PS, would love to join you some day for one of your meanderings
Dear Aryae and Shlomo,
I love both your lists. I must say yours made me laugh, Shlomo, while yours made me resolve to be more forgiving, Aryae. Lea Delson