A weekly exercise
- smcculley
- Feb 11, 2024
- 2 min read
A weekly exercise
Each week an exercise will be posted for the aim of raising awareness and being present in the midst of ordinary life.
Driving along you can see all the people
Who seem to have nothing to say to each other
Each day they grow farther and farther away from each other
Driving along
You can spot all the problems
On faces so tired of facing each other
Each day they grow farther and farther away from each other
Driving along
You can see all the people
Who seem to have nothing to say to each other
Each day they grow farther and farther away from each other
They seem to say nothing
They seem to go nowhere
They seem to go farther
And farther and farther away from each other ~Driving Along by Harry Nilsson (1971)
Our instinctive center drives the car while our mind is steeped in imagination. This does not seem safe and yet we’ve driven in cars for most of our life either as passengers or drivers.
Often we drive unaware of the routes we take. We drive expressing negative, judgmental thoughts about other drivers on the road. We get lost in our identification with problems of the day or our “to do” lists. Associative thoughts are never ceasing and always a means to distract from presence.
The truth is, most of us drive in a state of sleep.
The aim of this week’s exercise is to focus on driving “under the influence” of presence. As my teacher says, “There is nothing more exciting than being present to your life.”
Make an effort to sit in your car with the awareness of turning the ignition on or pushing in the ignition button. Reframe from instinctively turning on music. Put your phone away unless you are in need of GPS guidance. Look at your hands on the steering wheel, feel the steering wheel. Feel your foot on the gas pedal. Continue to watch all the mechanics of your lower self driving the car. Every time you are at a red light or stop sign, look at the red color and say the word red or stop.
Being in an awake state is being present to your surroundings and the people on the road.
Enjoy life’s ride and by the way do not slam the door as you exit your vehicle.
Comments