Recording and Listening Blog

June 1, 2015

Recently I relocated to a new town for a job. As I considered what my needs were for housing, I realized that top on the list was close proximity to work. With a history of many years of walking to work, I knew this would be a critical component for my physical and mental health. Gratefully, I was incredibly fortunate to find a modest, lovely place about a mile away. 

What I didn't realize was how critical this would be for my spiritual health. I have adopted the wonderful practice of listening to recordings on my walk to and from work. In the past, I have listened to recordings while commuting via car, but there is something about the combination of walking and listening —as others have written about in past blogs— that is very different. Listening to the Mentor as the body moves feels like the wisdom is entering in a deeper way; it feels like I am more connected to the experience since I am "in" my body as I walk. The wisdom is reaching my bones.

Listening to recordings as my day begins, I am reminded of what my heart's desire is for the day: a focus on compassion, that I want to offer to myself and everyone I come in contact with; a focus on being present; a focus on listening; a focus on not being a personality and not taking things personally.  And at day's end, it is so wonderful to spend time with myself in this way. The word that arises is recalibrating. There is an opportunity to take time to be with myself and appreciate all the components of the work day.

Another surprising thing I noticed: I am lucky that my day includes walking to meetings outside through a complex of buildings. The physical act of walking reconnects me with the Mentor, even without my ear buds in! A visceral connection has been made between walking and centering. The act of walking reminds me that walking can be a meditation. I drop into my senses and appreciate the smells and sights and hear encouragement and reminders to practice. It is an unforeseen gift that I so appreciate.

Gassho.
 

 

  • Consider your daily routine and see how you might include walking and listening as part of it. If that's not possible, consider how else you can organically include the practice of R/L as part of your routine. You just might discover a benefit you can share with the rest of us!

     

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