Eviction Friday and a Return to Practice

On Friday, I was informed by an email from my "landlord" that we needed to vacate our home in the next forty five days. My response proved less than festive. The rent was paid on time, we acted like good neighbors, we often conducted our own maintenance. The eviction is strictly for the convenience of the landlord so they can move someone else into the property. I have not researched the issue deeply, but apparently, this is legal or at least a grey area of the law.

This news came at the end of a relatively taxing week, so instead of following through with my usual daily practice last night, I made the deliberate decision to get some rest by heading to bed by seven pm.  The decision bore out, and I feel worlds better today.

Additionally, I was able to fully integrate the practice of walking, writing, minimalism, and photography today. The disastrous troubles from the unexpected eviction melted into inconveniences and focused into opportunities as the day wore on.

College Creek Sunset

By the time sunset rolled around, I'd returned to the moment and thoughts of the move which isn't here yet receded to their more appropriate place of something to deal with as the action of the universe unfolds.

Google's rendering of a similar scene

After almost a year, the centeredness that's come with the daily practice enables me to weather this storm without lingering anger and resentment. My thoughts have clarity and focus that would not have been possible before I started shrinking my world through walking, focusing on the now in meditation, and reining in fear through some level of physical and mental discipline.

College Creek Skyscape

As with every evening, I have no idea what tomorrow might hold. If it's anything like yesterday, it certainly won't be boring.  On to a knew place to live. I'm looking forward to it.

Hump Day

This week, the hump day came one day later than the traditionally defined hump. I also just about got back to my non-work daily practice routine. The one thing I didn't follow through with in some fashion was the minimalism practice that's been on the back burner for three days now.

Water is Life - Washington, DC

I even managed to return (albeit poorly) to photography.  Tomorrow, I'll put it all together. Basically except for the follow-up, I've managed to get my work done for the week, and I'm looking forward to a slightly more casual day tomorrow.  We shall see what unfolds.

Day of Rest

I taking a day off, but I'm keeping up the daily practice.

Grateful for today, and looking forward to tomorrow.

Listening to the Universe

Today, I had to participate in a physical fitness test for my day job.  There are four options to complete the cardiovascular portion of the test. You can choose to run/walk 1.5 miles (treadmill at 1% incline) for time, a twelve minute stationary bike ride for max calories, a twelve minute elliptical session for max calories, or a five hundred meter swim for time.

Sunset in Annapolis - Completely unrelated to this Post other than it happened today.

There were eleven "runners," and only ten treadmills. I had not signed up for a time slot, so the administrator of the test told me to pick the bike or elliptical. Not having practiced those events and not being told the scoring structure, I resisted at first. In the end, I let the guy off the hook to save us both some time, and I rode the bike.

It turned out to be the easiest way to get a good score on that portion of the test that I've ever experienced. Submitting to the guidance that the universe lays at our feet. Following the path that's laid out in front of me. Getting my ego in check and doing what has to be done. Those were all lessons brought home by this surprising experience.

Ever so slowly, I'm getting back to the point that little irritations like not getting what I expected are more of an adventure than anything else. I remember a time in childhood when riding a bike was great fun. It worked out exactly the same way today. Who knew that getting a good cardio score could be had for the taking while watching a TED talk and not working too very hard to get it.

It was a good day, and I'm looking forward to following the path placed at my feet tomorrow.

Sunrise in the Rearview Mirror

I've taken to entering photo contests.  I'm not getting a whole lot of feedback here in this site, so I thought getting a pulse of what other folks like might be a good idea. I admit that photo contests for a rank amateur could end up being a very disappointing prospect, but you seek critique where you can find it.

One of the contests that I'm entering has a category for "The American Experience" so I've been actively seeking images that might relate to the broad topic of Americana. This morning on the way to work, I noticed this scene unfolding behind me.

Sunrise on the Morning Commute

I've taken these rearview mirror shots in the past, but as far as I know they've been mostly sunsets. I couldn't help but think that a sunrise in the rearview mirror on a morning commute with not one, but two, pickup trucks in the frame is a pretty uniquely American experience.  We've built these highways that connect our homes to our workplace, and every day, thousands (if not millions) of my fellow citizens and I get in our little steel and plastic bubbles to go from where we are not to where we are for work. It's a bit crazy, but American all at the same time.

I also could not help but think there is an analogy here for my own current situation with work. I'm slowly beginning to move forward, but instead of running from a sunset into darkness, I'm headed toward a new day that's dawning right behind me. I'm sure the sun will catch up and probably even pass me by, but for now it's lighting the way to a new and exciting future. I don't really know what lies ahead, but I suspect it will be epic.

I'm looking forward to the new dawn of tomorrow.

Another Day, Another Sunset

Based on the unfolding situation at my day job, I am becoming increasingly convinced that the growing desire to find a new way of life out on the trail is likely in my future. I've been told on a number of occasions that I would know when it was time to move on, and I never really understood that sentiment. That understanding is growing more clear day after day.

College Creek Sunset

Today was another adventure that wrapped up with another good (though not spectacular) sunset. I am looking forward to what tomorrow will reveal as the dawning of a new way of life emerges.