Monday, the 17th, was a holiday at my place of work so I took the opportunity to treat myself to a day-long self-retreat. After a morning walk and get-together with a group I attend, I mindfully walked home and began a day without my phone, email, or social media. I did use the internet to the extent that I loaded up dharma talks, guided meditations, and, of course, Day 17 here.
I’ve done this before and my practice for the day generally runs like this:
6:00 am – 20 minutes walk to group
7:30 am – 20 minute walk home
8:00 am – 8:30 am – Cushion
8:30 am t0 9:00 am – Listen to talk
9:30 am – 10:00 am – Walk mindfully around neighborhood
10:00 am – 11:00 am – Cushion
11:00 am – 12:00 pm – Cook and eat minfully
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Dharma talk
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm – Cushion
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Walk
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Cushion
3:00pm – 3:30 pm – Dharma talk
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Cushion
4:00 pm – Done!
Of course, I’m pretty flexible with this, but it seems to work out pretty well.
On Day 18, Tuesday, back at work, I was pretty busy as my day includes leading a brief 10 minutes mindfulness with co-workers. I don’t actually feel qualified to do this, but I do work with a teacher at the sangha where I sit weekly and he said it would be fine. It’s been good now that I’m in my 2nd month of doing this. I am pursuing further education in learning to be a good leader as I think it’s the ethical thing to do (and should be a great experience for me as well).
That’s it for 17 and 18 I think…now on to 19!
