The day job has dominated life for the last few months, with study thrown in. It is almost Christmas, which means that the focus can turn to the annual process of shutdown, recharging and resetting. I will be back and blogging from mid-December, once I have had a few good nights’ sleep. Stay tuned.

Hello! I have been studying. And not posting to my blog. And running a business. And life. Final assignment is due in 15 hours, so I will be back in the blogging saddle before you can say ‘lack of writing practice discipline’.

In the meantime, I am awaiting delivery of the pastel drawing below, an 18th Century depiction of a dense forest. Nice! It caught my eye. Coming from Monaco, apparently. Enjoy. See you soon.

18th Century red pastel drawing

I could think of a thousand topics to write about but right now none would hold my attention. I am distracted.

When I meditate I sometimes feel confused. My mind is often, but not always, turbulent. I have heard and read many times that this is expected and not at all unusual.

Avoiding it is not the point. The point is not to attempt to smooth out the convolutions of your thoughts, or to really quiet the mind, so much as to be welcoming and accepting of all that comes to you. This includes thoughts, sensory feelings, physical sensations, sounds, impulses and emotions. Anything at all.

It’s called equanimity.

That’s the point: to be at home to all comers. Accept how things are. Start where you are right now. Accept the turbulent mind, the confused mind, the distraction. Welcome it all.

Ha! Easier said than done, but it is like a ritual: you pretend it is working, doing it even when you think it isn’t working, and somehow that kind of makes it work.

Curious.