explodingcat (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
realexplodingcat) wrote2004-10-08 07:12 pm
realexplodingcat) wrote2004-10-08 07:12 pm
(no subject)
Seems like forever since I last posted here. This class I'm taking is keeping me busy. Not so busy that I don't have time to do anything, but busy enough that when I have down time I don't really want to do activities that yield some kind of output, like writing or composing music. I've been doing more restorative activities like reading, taking walks, meditation, and exercise.
I am going less crazy over the class, but that experience is pushing me to find an inner peace to hold on to when all else is going nuts. I have always been intrigued by Buddhism and I'm considering seeking some formal experience with it. I think part of me misses a little bit of the ritual of being Catholic (which is the way I was raised) and the spiritual glue that binds one's disparate activities together. But the Catholic establishment no longer appeals to me. So, I'll check out the Buddha. Maybe I can find out why this guy who eschews materialism and lives without earthly desires is always portrayed as being fat.
Sort of related to the inner-peace thing: the other day I went to bed early, and woke up an hour earlier than usual. I usually just roll out of bed at 9am and right into the office. But I decided to try getting up early, to start the day with some personal time. It was a very nice way to set the tone for the day. I'd love to continue doing that, if I can manage to get to bed consistently earlier.
Yesterday, I thought it might be a good idea to take back the power in my relationship with my boss. I fixed a bug in our software in a way that only I could do. That's power! I control the bug fixing! So, I thought, next time my boss prompts me for a fix, I'll say, "I don't think you want it bad enough! I'm not going to check-in this bug fix unless you beg for it!"
And I blasted a squirrel off our bird feeder with the hose. Yes, indeed. I still can't bring myself to shoot them out of the trees, but I think I'm within my rights to defend my bird feeder.
I am going less crazy over the class, but that experience is pushing me to find an inner peace to hold on to when all else is going nuts. I have always been intrigued by Buddhism and I'm considering seeking some formal experience with it. I think part of me misses a little bit of the ritual of being Catholic (which is the way I was raised) and the spiritual glue that binds one's disparate activities together. But the Catholic establishment no longer appeals to me. So, I'll check out the Buddha. Maybe I can find out why this guy who eschews materialism and lives without earthly desires is always portrayed as being fat.
Sort of related to the inner-peace thing: the other day I went to bed early, and woke up an hour earlier than usual. I usually just roll out of bed at 9am and right into the office. But I decided to try getting up early, to start the day with some personal time. It was a very nice way to set the tone for the day. I'd love to continue doing that, if I can manage to get to bed consistently earlier.
Yesterday, I thought it might be a good idea to take back the power in my relationship with my boss. I fixed a bug in our software in a way that only I could do. That's power! I control the bug fixing! So, I thought, next time my boss prompts me for a fix, I'll say, "I don't think you want it bad enough! I'm not going to check-in this bug fix unless you beg for it!"
And I blasted a squirrel off our bird feeder with the hose. Yes, indeed. I still can't bring myself to shoot them out of the trees, but I think I'm within my rights to defend my bird feeder.
no subject
I like what I know about Buddhism, but it's only a hodge-podge of ideas gathered throughout my life. I think I want to take some focused time to learn about it. I don't know that I'm necessarily wanting to join a community, but what I do want is to learn about a long-standing tradition (because I like old traditions) and take that home with me to give some structure to a personal ritual.
I think my ritual should include tormenting squirrels.
I see you are back online more regularly? You are settled again in NoVa? Sorry we missed each other during the move. Moving is never easy. And I was just starting to go crazy with this class I'm taking at UVA. I'm slightly less crazy now. I'm actually keeping up with LJ and other internet things, which I wasn't doing too well with for awhile.