Stopping To Be Still – #still4amo

Armchair_bench1.jpg
Armchair style bench
Afternoon_bench1.jpg
A brisk sunny afternoon bench

Walking along the street yesterday I spotted a group of youngsters eating their lunch on a bench beside the road. Much tweeting and rustling going on as well as laughter. There is nothing like sitting on a long bench with friends, perhaps with a bag of chips to warm ones hands. Memories of sitting on a park bench beside Derwent Water in the Lake District. Vegi Pasties I seem to remember, with hot tea to wash it down with. It was a grand monks day outing!

Park benches can be a great place to take a moment to be still, to regroup, settle and then move on. There is always a place to sit however making the time to do that is not so easy. Deciding to stop at a bench, or wall, to sit4amo while on a mission is a huge ask of oneself. Walking has a momentum, missions have a press to complete, arriving on time is important.

I’m finding the pre-arrangement to sit at 5.00 pm each day this month a great help. I know that I am committed to stop then and even if it’s just one minute that’s fine. The momentum of activity and the press to finish a task are eclipsed by my greater intention to simply stop.

See Meditation Mantra – #still4amo for background information.

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10 thoughts on “Stopping To Be Still – #still4amo”

  1. I’m just noticing that all park benches are not born equal. Meaning I’m seeing differences in design in the two green metal ones I have posted pictures of. I’ll have to sneek up on a few more around where I am and see what else I can find.

  2. Let’s go for it. Why not?!

    I’m loving how, when my phone alarm goes off at 4.55, I think ‘What on earth’s this?’ and then I remember, and find somewhere to pause. It’s excellent.

  3. There I am, working on a carving; total concentration as has been the case all afternoon. Then at 5-00 pm, without a prompt, “Jade Mountains” comes to mind so I put my rasp/file to one side and sit in my battered old swivel chair.
    I didn’t time it but a minute or so had clearly past. Time to move on to the next thing, – make a brew then re-assess the work so far.

    I hadn’t set out to “sit for a mo” but it happened anyway. Does #sit4amo have a default setting I wonder? Let’s see what happens tomorrow.

    Norman

  4. this works for you Chris. I’m keeping up the discipline myself. This evening I had to pull over into a layby…

  5. 4-55 pm and I remembered. Put down mallet and chisel and sat in old swivel chair.
    Tomorrow I’m dog-sitting, THAT could be interesting. All that dog wants to do is play.

    Norman

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