People often trudge from place to place—particularly in the city. Rushed, surrounded by strangers, and crammed into small spaces, many travelers carry around significant stress during their “in-between time” (between home and office, one store and another, etc). This stress is not only unnecessary, but transforms a potentially enjoyable experience into a draining one.
Transit time is an amazing opportunity to observe conditioned responses—our own, and those of our fellow travelers.
Want to know how to walk into the office rejuvenated instead of drained? To return home renewed rather than exhausted?
Practice compassion; be in touch with your sense of humor and humanity. Why trudge when you can enjoy the opportunities that your day provides?
The exercise below is one of many that can get you rolling. Check out the archives and explore them all.
Separation and Song
- Pick some music to bring with you while commuting: something positive and stimulating… not agitating. Personally, I enjoy traditional East Indian santoor music.
- Take your music with you on your travels.
- When you are walking down the street, standing in line, or sitting in your seat, listen for a minute with your eyes slightly unfocused or even closed (transportation method permitting).
- Now, open and focus them. Turn your eyes on!
- Perceive that both the small and large motions of the people or cars around you are all flowing with the music.
- Wait for the music-motion connection to become apparent.
- See how the rolling of the bus, the speeding of the subway, the shifting and stopping of the traffic all belong to the music.
- It is as though everyone and everything around you is part of the same music, though not aware!
- Listen and look until you see it!
- You are an observer of the song of life.
You are one of many taking part in an experience… together. Sit back and enjoy the ride… |
