KateThoughts

Continuing the "Fates" conversation.

Ursula, the words that work for me may not be the ones that work for you. Even English words won't mean the same for women who are native speakers of two different languages. Then when you add on the variances of dialect, or education, or colloquialisms you sink in a murky pool of who knows what.

In my mind 'accept' or 'acceptance' can have an element of judgment such as is implied here:
"2 : to give admittance or approval to <accept her as one of the group>"

or it carries a negative emotion for me as in this:
"a : to endure without protest or reaction <accept poor living conditions> b : to regard as proper, normal, or inevitable <the idea is widely accepted>"

On the other hand, to allow seems to connote more freedom:

1.

to give permission to or for; permit: to allow a student to be absent; No swimming allowed.

2.

to let have; give as one's share; grant as one's right: to allow a person $100 for expenses.

3.

to permit by neglect, oversight, or the like: to allow a door to remain open.

4.

to admit; acknowledge; concede: to allow a claim.

5.

to take into consideration, as by adding or subtracting; set apart: to allow an hour for changing trains.

(I was happy to note that I understand these words in ways that match up with the dictionary.) : )

The other place, Ursula, where I take a different route is that I believe that no circumstance in the world 'out there' needs changing.
(I feel as if I am sticking my neck out here, but ...
writing it may help it all come clearer for me, too.)

I think that all these circumstances that so many of us think need changing, would completely disappear if we took all of our attention away from them. That's how I understand the bottom line of my present spiritual position. The ONLY things that I can change are the circumstances of my own life in my own space, relationships, economics, etc.

And the best way to change a circumstance in my life that I do not want is to turn my attention away from that, and create what I DO want by consciously intending/creating that picture and then allowing it to come to me - because Source has already said Yes. I just need to get in the right river. In the flow ... 

no more....more rumination needed...or maybe just some Rumi.   :)

IF the Fates Allow...

Do the fates allow? Are there Fates? hmmm...    

I think not.

(This post is growing out of inspiration from Ursula in her comment on my previous post.
Thanks, Ursula; this kind of conversation is one of the main reasons I blog. )

Now then: for me, No Fates.
I've always had a problem with trying to understand or believe in a god that could say to her/his/? children, "No. He can have that, but you can't." Or "suffering" makes you holy".

What I've come to understand and believe now is that there is Source -(One) (God) (Cosmic Mind)- whatever name it has/uses - we use - it is all the same. And that One has manifested all over this planet as the things we see: humans, animals, rocks, weather, everything pretty much that we might associate with a loving spiritual entity.

And my circumstances in this life on this planet is directly related to my personal allowing of that Source to operate in, as, and through me. 

This belief is changing the way I look at everything. Most especially at myself.
It's not scary this time.
When I'm in the flow of the energy of Source, I am joyful. The lessons come in learning to stay in that flow; how to notice when I'm not in it; and the steps to take to return to it as soon as possible.

These theories also buck a lot of my religious background, the beliefs of people close to me - indeed, a great deal of the population! So I tussle with myself from time to time - sometimes hour to hour : )

This is all you get today. Deep - must sit with it/in it... later friends

Fidelity and the Human Brain, or Open your Minds, People!

I love being in the flow of ideas; or just in the flow (but that's another post); life is so much simpler here.

For a long time I've felt that the average philandering male has gotten the short end of stick. Just think of how we have vilified so many otherwise good men; I don't need to name them here (even to get more Google pings).

(BTW: the word philander has two definitions, both of which are followed by the phrase: 'Used of a man'. I haven't been able to find a similar word 'used for a woman'. Well, there ARE some, but they are of the four-letter variety.)

It really came to a huge head for me over the big golfer-hero media frenzy. The amount of muck-racking that went on, and still goes on, was startling and embarrassing. Yes, I knew it was to be expected. We've become a culture that feeds on scandal. It was interesting to me that maintaining a boundary about NOT hearing all the BS was so difficult. And why is scandal such a big deal?  --also another post.

Recently, I've had several conversations about this. And now here is an article, by neuropsychiatrist, Dr. Louann Brizendine, M.D., that more or less proves my point.  Dr. Brizendine wrote The Female Brain, and has recently released her book, The Male Brain. Here is a transcript of an interview in Elle magazine with the doctor. The interview is very interesting, though I almost didn't read past the author's seeming skepticism.

So what do I think?

If fidelity is important to you, you better cover it in the contract. Yes, I mean the marriage contract, or your wedding/commitment vows.

Fidelity is NOT automatically included anymore because so many write their own, and many don't 'get it' that what they write is, indeed, a contract. And I assert that the couple standing in front of the officiant MAY not be totally engrossed in what is actually being said in the more traditional services. In fact, the more traditional, the less likely the actual words will be heard. 

Let's wake up. As a culture, we've developed a huge double-standard that makes (used to make) men just sowers of wild oats, while making women sluts or whores or worse. Let's learn to understand ourselves better. And we'll still let men get away with it unless we (the media) feel some kind of need to 'take them down' or improve our ratings.

So - talk about it. Discuss the if-then. What will be the consequences of philandering behavior? For either partner? Say out loud, "I expect total and complete fidelity 100% of the time, and if I don't get it, this will be the result."
I don't subscribe for a second to the theory that men can't help it. Of course, they can and millions of faithful men have proven that.

I do not mean, in any way, to excuse extramarital (or extra-relational) philandering. I DO think we need to grow up - as a culture, and to learn more about how we're wired and why we do the things we do. And what aspects of living together are really important.

And frankly, I believe that some of the casual sex engaged in by married/committed women MAY be different (and possibly more harmful) because they might have underlying motives such as a need to get even, or to punish, or to raise their own self-esteem. That is not even about sex, but about something else, entirely.

And lastly, if we were to grow up culturally, the harmless sexual behaviors of consenting adults might go back to being a private matter rather than fodder for a ratings-hungry media. Imagine the time that would be freed up for important matters. Consider this article by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Saul Friedman.  

AND, I think that much of this can apply to same-sex couples as well, with obvious, and not so obvious differences. A lot of it is just truly understanding what we promise when we decide to 'commit' ourselves to another person. And then knowing where one's own integrity lies when it comes to the promises we've made. Yes, promises can be broken; it happens everyday. It's important to me to be sure that I never do so accidentally, or because 'I just couldn't help it'.

Vibrational Frequencies ~ Up... and Down?

"In order to help someone who's in a very different vibrational frequency, you've got to adjust your vibrational frequency so that they can hear you. And if we were standing in your physical shoes, we would not adjust our vibrational frequency down—ever. We would not introduce more resistance in our vibration for any reason whatsoever, because disconnecting yourself from resources does not give them more to eat."  - Abraham

This is the text of today's quote from the channeled work of Jerry & Esther Hicks.

Here is a totally new reason (as if I needed more) for keeping my nose out of other folks' business.
I guess it's really not new; I've known this.
But it is SO easy to get my little inner preacher preaching!

I do SO love sharing my infinite wisdom. :)
I hope you're laughing; I am right now, but I often forget.
                                                                    Then I get to hear cosmic laughter!

What it implies is that for me, individually, to get/stay connected to my Source IS the path to more sustenance for others. Cool, huh?     or...Model it; don't preach it.
ONE MORE TIME - I can ONLY change myself. 

Rumi speaks to me...again

I opened The Essential Rumi to this poem last night. Does it speak to you, too?

Who Says Words with My Mouth?

All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile,
I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.
The day is coming when I fly off,
but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?

Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.

This poetry, I never know what I'm going to say.
I don't plan it.
when I'm outside the saying of it,
I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.

The Boyle Phenomenon: a rant in two parts

Why was it somehow ok to laugh at her before she sang but not after she sang?

 

I’ve been reading again; always a dangerous activity for me. My brain can run in circles and I’ve heard more than once that I just “take it all too seriously”… mountains out of molehills, that’s me. While most seem to be wondering or ranting about banks, government, politics, etc., I wonder about where civility has gone. Is it really surprising that we are here, in these times & circumstances, when we no longer value things like honesty, respect for others, courage, taking responsibility, & personal integrity?

Yes, I loved the video(s) of Susan Boyle. Like many of you, I’ve searched for her on the ‘net, listened to the song a dozen times or more, looked up Elaine Paige, and tracked downs interviews with Susan, Piers, and Amanda…
(there are more than 11,000 links to videos of SB on YouTube as of this writing, midnight 4-22-09)

Here is an article I found referenced in the comments section at Time Goes By in a post called Celebrating Old Old Age. An excerpt from the article says,

“The YouTube clip of Susan's angel voice soaring from the unkissed mouth of that scrunchy-faced, eyebrow-enforested, unprepossessingly dumpy representative of anonymous humanity was the third irresistible message to us all to get over ourselves.”

I do so completely agree with the last 4 words.

Piers Morgan, a BGT judge said in the videos,

“…Without a doubt that is the biggest surprise I’ve experienced in the three years of this show. …I’m reeling with shock…everyone was laughing at you; no one is laughing now.”

Amanda Holden, another of the BGT judges, said, “…everybody was against you…”, and called it “the biggest wake-up call ever.”

And well it should be.

But is it, really, quite the wake-up call we need? I say no.

In every reference to Susan that I have found, the wake-up call seems to be about judging books by their covers. Ok. There’s nothing really wrong with that; it's a great lesson.
But the lesson I would rather see learned is the one about respect for a human being – any human being – and every human being.  

So I repeat: Why was it somehow ok to laugh at her before she sang but not after she sang?
Susan is herself and came to the competition AS herself, with a tremendous amount of courage, because she had a dream to ‘sing before a large crowd of people’.

What was the relevance of SCowell’s question about her age in a competition with no age requirements? And the eye-rolling & laughter that went on when she answered, “47”…
Given the wide acceptance of rude and offensive behavior in the world today, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, but can we really just laugh out loud in someone’s face?

Clearly so.

And then we apologize, and express that hearing her sing “was a privilege”. And all is well; we’ve learned our lesson; let’s get on with things; Susan will be a star and make records…blah, blah, blah.

And what of the woman who lives next door to Susan – or to me – who looks just like her; who does her own hair and sees no need to be or look different than she is; and whose talent is only creating a warm and comfortable home, or, as Susan did before we all discovered her, working for charities, or caring for aging parents?

We don’t applaud those talents very often. So do we just get to keep laughing?

The TGB article is related, though the focus is somewhat different. It comments, in part, on the evident shock that many feel when they learn that an old person can actually DO things, like cooking or driving or working, for heaven’s sake. As if they haven’t been doing that for some several decades already!

Here’s a short excerpt:

“The discomfort, I have come to see, is due to how such a statement diminishes the person. It negates and demeans an entire life, as though the fact that she works at age 100, and not the work she does, is the most important thing about her.”

(Do follow the link to the article, and read the comments, too. There is real meat there, and links to the story of a remarkable woman.)

How is it that we expect a different kind of behavior from our leaders today, in business, politics, government, etc. when we’ve all played our own parts in creating the culture we have? As long as the quantity of one’s possessions is more important than the quality of one’s own integrity, we will continue to live with the Madoff’s of this world. There ARE other voices out there besides the ones who rant & complain. They are just harder to find. One great one can be found here at No Safe Distance.

So when we see a Susan Boyle, and are pleasantly surprised by a rich & beautiful voice, we cry, and feel inspired…for a moment; and never think of the real life of that other woman who flips hamburgers or turns down the bed in our next hotel room, or is old.

And I’ll bet that our own American Idol would not be the raging success that it is if the audience couldn’t do their share of booing and laughing at ___. Why, even the first few episodes of each season are designed to show us the most ‘laughable’ of the contestants. I know two people who only watch those first episodes. It is of no interest to them who might win; they just want to laugh at someone. And if you think I might be exaggerating, go read the comment streams under some of those videos. But don’t read many of them; they are poisonous, symptomatic of our cultural & social ills and very contagious.

You've Got a Friend...and, at last, so do I.

I've posted work by this sand artist before. Here's a new one (or new to me). Bet you enjoy this, too. Thanks, Shaula. :)

And this is the beginning of a shift in tone I hope you'll hear on this blog: a little more lightness, more humor, more fun. It's not in my nature to skip the important life lessons I experience, so they will still show up here in one form or another.
I'm just finally getting it that this life is, indeed, short. And I am finally tired of ruling my world, controlling your behavior or speech, and going (not so) quietly insane when the cosmos throws a curve.

Instead, I'm getting good at recognizing the curves, responding in the moment; and noticing if that particular curve is for the person over there...
Imagine that! Some of those balls are for the players in the infield.

Born yesterday? Yep. ...well, the day before...                         :)

Read This... a suggestion, not an order... :)

There is a great conversation happening over at No Safe Distance on giving & connectedness.
Check it out and join in if you care to.

Also, my 'guest post' for Time Goes By is posted now. It's called "Hope & Fear" and is posted here:
http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/2009/01/hope-and-fear.html  

LIGHT BULB ............................. August 9, 2006

Wow! What an evening last night!

I got a call from a relative in that extended family I mentioned in yesterday's post followed immediately by the viewing of segment 7 in Bill Moyers' series called Faith & Reason. The juxtaposition just blows me away. Whoever or whatever may be the actual nature of that thing I sometimes call Cosmic Mind has a really cool sense of timing and an amazing sense of humor.

The relative is a faithful member of the same Christian religion in which I grew up. It's working beautifully for her and clearly satisfies her spiritual needs. The interviewee on the Moyers' show was Pema Chöndrön, a Buddhist nun. Her religion works for her, too.

I asked my relative how I was coming across in this blog. She has been reading it (don't know how long) but has never commented. She said that I came across as ...searching. The way she said it led me to jump to the conclusion that 'searching' was a bad thing. (MY stuff, not necessarily hers - I didn't check it out.)

Here's my REVELATION:  (Multi-faceted, no particular order)

Ø       It’s the search that is important, not the answer.

Ø       My thrashing about for answers is about (may be about) my own need for drama and wanting to be ‘made special’ by some kind of cosmic communication.

Ø       There really ARE (at least) Nine Billion Names of god. Which one I choose (or don’t choose) is probably irrelevant to you.

Ø       NO ONE actually KNOWS who/what/where god is until s/he experiences it after this lifetime is over. What that person believes about it is her/his own belief system about it.

Ø       A belief system may be inherited (by default or by thoughtful consideration), or it may be rationally chosen after careful research and/or experience.

Ø       I still have ‘knee-jerk’ reactions to some things that sound like fundamental Christianity.

Ø       What others believe about my experience is none of my business, but may make interesting conversation. (if we can avoid having expectations for each other)

Ø       True ‘fundamentalism’ seems symptomatic of a closed mind regardless of the form that fundamentalism takes: religion, politics, whatever.

Ø       I’m better served, spiritually, if I remain flexible and open to the possibility that I may be totally and completely wrong about ALL matters spiritual and by attaching nothing to that possibility.

Ø       We all, each of us, have the potential of embracing fundamentalism in one realm or another.

 

There will be more on this subject, of course. It seems enough for now that I can (at last) RELAX. My current spiritual task is to manifest the best, kindest, most peaceful spirit I can manage in any given moment, and to model that in my heart, my behavior, my speech; indeed, in ALL aspects of my life. Doing that will also require that I translate my former angst into actual spiritual practice. For me, that will be more meditation and further exploration. If I need further revelation it will be provided. Hallelujah, amen.

Who is that Omnicrone?

This doc created 12-2-05

Years ago I had a mental picture of a ‘who’ that was attractive to me. I’ve never forgotten it. Have sketched it more than once.

She has a space/home that is built into the side of a hill with arms of earth that come around each side and embrace a big garden that has a pond and a fire pit, and grass and flowers and trees, etc…peaceful.

Visited by birds and critters, and people

The wall that separates the home from the garden is made of lots of glass brick and sliding doors. The wall is set back into the hill so that the earth overhangs the entry and protects/shades it.

She makes things (of glass and/or metal/wood that catch and reflect light or make pretty noises. She spends her time in the garden, or making music, or cooking…there’s always a pot of soup on the stove and warm bread.

Everyone who comes there ‘breaks bread’ with her (and each other).

Sometimes, especially at the dark or full moon, she drums around the fire pit. Others may or may not be there. Sometimes it’s ‘planned’ but if so, others did the planning…she doesn’t require any.

People are drawn to her. She doesn’t really say much; they just feel comfortable or comforted there. She listens carefully and intently. She touches easily. Touches, strokes, kisses …holds space.

She doesn’t have to DO anything…doesn’t have to go out to ‘speak’, never heard the word ‘marketing’. Doesn’t sell anything or attach fees to what she does/is. She ‘holds safe space’. She loves things and people and critters, and imposes herself on none of them.

To all who come she is an island of peace, love, acceptance, compassion, creativity, and no judgment.

She lives alone, but knows of and uses a space like this (with a friend like this) when she is the one with needs that require a witness. She has two ‘sisters of the heart’ and is mother to all the rest.

further thoughts about this 'vision':

I often don’t feel of-this-world. I think often that I want a cloister. I don’t think that I have been ‘called’ by god to any religion.

I don’t feel particularly wise, or knowledgeable. And I know I’m not really that woman of my vision. But I want to be her. I don’t know how to manifest her. I don’t want to ‘perform’ to exist on the planet…. This thought feels the truest and has brought the most emotion to the surface. During college and the decade following, I did a lot of theater. That felt wonderful. I loved it and was good at it. It felt “natural”. Everything else in my life since has felt like a “performance” and not natural.

I feel like I have a hole in my center that is supposed to be full of god, but I can’t keep my promises to myself (and to god) long enough to fill the hole. I got a glimpse of it once in a counseling session with a wonderful ol’ woman who helped me see it… There is a pale blue radiant light. I’m not sure if the light is god, or just the color of the space when it is full.

This doc created 12-2-05

OmniCrone: Growing into the concept

Omnicrone - a word; just a string of letters. It fell out of my fingers onto this keyboard a few years ago while I was corresponding with Laura, who became my first coach. I've used it often since. At first, only jokingly; later with a bit more seriousness, but carefully - always noting with whom I was speaking or writing. Not everyone could be trusted with that word.

Lately - oh the last few months, I'm growing closer to knowing that the word really has great weight for me. And I'm ready, I believe, to accept it and work more diligently on understanding what it means. Means to me, of course; there's no reason (as yet) for it to mean anything at all to you. I'm not even certain I'll publish this page. We'll see.

The deciding vote for today's post and this new-found courage to surrender can be found in my experience of this morning and a final 'awakening' of sorts in which my eyes seemed to open, at last. Here's today's story: I no longer believe I've got the whole world fooled into thinking I'm a nice, intelligent, occasionally wise person.
As of now, I believe that I AM a nice, talented, intelligent, frequently wise, often funny woman with a lot of personal integrity, and a desire to model omnicroneishness to others.

I went to a wedding. Jim & Vanessa were married today. I got my invitation a couple of months ago and was thrilled to be invited, literally. You see, Jim is my 'sifu Jim', my T'ai Chi teacher, my model, my mentor (to a degree), and my friend - my heart-friend-forever. Oh, if I could only be like Jim!
He seems to be the last (of a long line of) buddha(s) required to teach me this lesson. Even now, if I were to allow it, my brain/ego could tell me long lists of reasons why none of this is true. I don't allow that, anymore.

So I was very please to be included in this day, though I was surprised. He let me pick up his best friend (and 'best man') at the airport, and asked for my help in preparing a special favor for his guests. I thought they were for the house party - the family & such - there were only 30 of them. Well, counting Jim & Vanessa, there were only 26 at the wedding. I got one of the beads. I'm in Jim's Top 30.  !  Wow  !

Why it took this, of so many other possible occurrences, coaches, etc., to teach me this particular lesson, I can't say. I think it doesn't matter. I've learned it.

Thankfully, it doesn't feel like an ego trip. (I suppose it's possible that I'm fooling myself.)

I've spent many years working on this person who is I.
Today her name is OmniCrone.
Today, and for all the days that I remain breathing, I AM OmniCrone.

:)  No, you don't have to call me that. No, I'm not really changing my actual name to OmniCrone.   :)

But starting now, and going forward, I know that I will be contributing to the love in the world in a real and conscious way. I know that I will be modeling for those who see/hear me. I know that those people may only be those who already 'know' me. I have no drive to change the world; just to BE fully and consciously and lovingly in my own little piece of it.
I have begun, as of today, to make wiser choices for myself because someone may be watching. I know there is a 10 year old boy who needs a good model. I know that my dear friend needs me to be strong, but approachable and NOT critical. I know that Joel teaches me far more than she knows, and often things of which I am not even aware in the moment. And I know that Jim loves me.

And I know that this world needs a whole lot more of us. More like Jim, more like Kate, and many many many more omnicrones and sages.

So, you're welcome to the word and to the work. Because, work it will be. Everyday, in every moment an omnicrone is as conscious as possible, loves with huge generosity, and makes better & better decisions for her life.

The OmniCrone(s)

I'm putting this up again  because of some new commitments to myself about standing up for what I believe. The quoted text was penned by a friend (name and link at the end); I coined the word. You're welcome to use it - share it - claim it as your own.

"So, what is an OmniCrone, you may be wondering?

This ain't your old-hag-with-the-warts-on-her-nose stirring up a kettle-of-toad-stew-in-the-primeval-forest.

This is the Renaissance Woman of the I-am-Completely-Ready-to-Take-Over-the-World and I-Don't-Need-No-Sugar-Daddy and I-Certainly-Don't-Need-Your-Permission variety.

She's the real deal, flesh & blood, brains-body-wit-wisdom, howling-at-the-moon, website-building, business-running, look-you-right-in-the-eye and lets-roll-up-our-sleeves, we've-got-work-to-do woman that this world most desperately needs.

She's full force, not shrinking back (or shirking), give me integrity or give me death, I might like you but that doesn't mean I respect you, and if you aren't ready to slay a few dragons with me please move over, because I have work to do and I can't wait around until your favorite TV show is over, woman who demands the best of herself and delivers.

She isn't waiting to be rescued, and she isn't going to play damsel in distress hoping a man is going to come and take care of all the details, while she is pretending her life is some kind of optional hobby that she doesn't have to take responsibility for.

She is a fountain of love and compassion and you can trust her with your greatest vulnerabilities and know that she will watch your back if you are heading into the battle of your life, but she is not afraid to rattle your cage when you need a good shaking and if you can't handle it she's really sorry but you had it coming.

Is she becoming a little more real to you now?"

Omnicrone...hmm.  That is one big woman.

Most of these words came from the pen of my very favorite I-haven't-met-her-in-the-flesh-yet mentor, colleague, girlfriend, coach, blogger Laura Young. The name is mine. The image is me - that best part of me that I am discovering as I continue the journey from then to whenever. I see that  she is evolving still.

Omnicrone - Katecrone - is a little less in your face than the Renaissance Woman above, but no less clear on what we value. I do howl at the moon, but I'd rather rattle my own cage these days, than to point out any (mis)perceived flaws in the structure of yours. Don't ask for my opinion, though, if you aren't sure you want to know.

OmniKateCrone wants to walk through the rest of this life as conscious as possible and into the next really big transition with grace. She/we/I have a chance - just like the one that we all have - to leave just a little more love behind me than not. I aspire to life focused on holding spirit in a way that draws the best from each one I meet - on watering the omnicronish spirit in everyone - and to changing the stereotypical connotation of the word.

The world needs a few omnicrones these days. Go on - I dare you.

Mastery & the Omnicrone

I'm reading Mastery by George Leonard. I have to tell you about it.

I've been thinking about this for a long time. And about actually BEING the Omnicrone, whose name I coined and who I've been afraid to claim...and about our culture, and our standards, and our children...

And today I read Laura's post "It's the Wrong Question" and knew - just knew that it's time to step up -  again.

Mastery is not a new book, nor even a new concept. It (probably) is something  you already know. It seems likely to resonate with you. I can imagine you thinking, "Well, of course, I know that."
And yet, we may not know it in a way that moves us into a different way of living.

Mastery, Leonard's mastery, is about learning to love and live in the now, in a way that hadn't occurred to me. He often uses his long-standing martial arts practice as a metaphor. It's about loving the plateau. About loving the process of something, not just the results of something. He says we can be masters, or dabblers, or hackers. He describes these characteristics and helps us see how we got to be where and who we are.
He has changed my outlook on my T'ai Chi practice and I'm even redefining the way I think about the word, practice.

And in the book, he helps me understand why I have such trouble keeping commitments to myself.
And how I (we) came to be this way. He speaks about our culture and the ways in which we've been trained (from early childhood) to seek the reward, not the path.

For example:
We go to school to get good grades.
We get good grades to get into a good college.
We get into a good college to get a better jog.
We get a better job to make more money.
We make more money to have bigger, better ___.  (you fill in the blanks)

Everything in this list if focused somewhere and some-when else. There is no now in any of this. It is not possible to be 'in' your body or your right mind if you're not actually 'present' with what you are doing/thinking.

What if:
we went to school because learning is fun?
we went to college because learning is fun?
we got a job because we can work at something we love?
we buy just what we need because we know who we are without 'things'?

Can you imagine yourself or your children studying because they enjoy it? 

Did you watch Kid Nation?
Now that is/was a scary-hopeful show if ever I saw one. I do NOT recommend it, but I wanted/needed to see it. I wanted to know what our kids are up to in those little precious minds, and I wanted to see how they might be manipulated by the media moguls with advertising space to sell.

I'm happy to report that a few of those children surprised me and made me hopeful about the possible fate of this world. I say 'possible' because the children who displayed integrity were vastly outnumbered by those who didn't.
It was very interesting. I hope a couple of them (one in particular comes to mind) will be driven to change dramatically. I hope her parents are embarrassed, and that they KNOW how she got to be the way she was/is.
I fear that they won't.

Not my business - but it IS my problem.
We teach the children - all of us: parents or childless, teachers or bankers, or chefs, or ditchdiggers.
Mostly, we teach them that life is a series of climaxes and toys.
We say post your video on YouTube, don't worry about actually practicing your craft.
We say buy the lottery tickets; there is no need to work for something you want.
We say get a fancy car and the girls will love you.
We say be my 'friend' on the internet and wonder why we can't hold a conversation outside of text-messaging.

Read the book.