monkey mind monday.
"Monkey mind" is a term often used in Buddhist writing to describe an unsettled/restless state. Anyone who has ever tried to meditate by "clearing their mind" can relate to monkey mind – thoughts jump about, sometimes with a screeching that is easily reminiscent of the sounds at the zoo.
Today, in my first day back in the office after a long stretch of travel, I was consumed by monkey mind. I had to remind myself to do one thing at a time. My thoughts jumped from work to home to plans to friends to obligations to blah, blah, blah. In the past, I would have calmed down with a cup of coffee (counterintuitive, I know). Instead, I made myself a cup of tea, and tried to lessen the chatter. I was not entirely successful. Among the jumble of thoughts -
*Hope comes home in one month. Seriously? ONE MONTH.
*I have a ton of writing ideas in my head. Need time to sit down & write.
*I have the overwhelming urge to hang tibetan prayer flags from the back deck. Is it disingenuine to by them from Amazon?
*I own exactly two pair of grey socks. 70% of my wardrobe is grey. Shouldn't I own more grey socks?
*I have a 1/2 marathon in less than a month that I am feeling woefully unprepared for.
*Are stainless mixing bowls better than plastic or glass?
*I am tired of eating in restaurants. This is the singular reason why I don't think that I could ever live in NYC.
*What is up with all the Grey's Anatomy reruns?
*Parenthood is my new Grey's Anatomy (see previous thought)
*I wish that I looked good in yellow. It's such a happy color.
*Fun news from Fiskars this week for you crafty folks.
Time for sleep!
11 Comments
shelleymay
ok. we are truly sisters from another mister. i’m emailing you. now.
Lindsey
Oh, I relate to this so much … I hope you slept and woke with a stiller mind. xoxo
Lee Currie
I do hope you got a restful sleep after all of that! I find my mind goes all monkey on me when I do not have a pen and paper with me. Drives me crazy. Good for you to capture it all. I don’t know that they’re “better” but I love my stainless steel bowls – that and glass. I’m purging my house of plastic 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
Barb
Monkey mind. I will remember this.
About the flags. . . Tibet is pretty far to travel. I think buying the flags online is forgivable.
About the mixing bowls. . . I don’t really ever heat anything in mine, so I have a plastic nested set with a pouring spout from W&S. LOVE. I do wish I had a set of clear glass that I could use in double-boiling situations, though.
About yellow. . . I feel your pain.
About Parenthood. . . It is not new this week, either.
And, about Hope. . . HOORAY! I can’t believe it’s only a month.
emspahn
I think I have monkey mind every day. Seriously.
LOVE Parenthood. 🙂
And yes…I also wish I looked good in yellow. Or any color for that matter. 😉
shannon
Two Comments:
1. Mixing bowls. Plastic will sometimes absorb particularly strong things. Glass are good. I have my Grandmother’s Pyrex from the 50s and they are my favorite, by far.
2. Monkey mind – I sooooooo have that (as you well know). It was, for a long time, keeping me up at night. I find that concentrating on each breath as I inhale and exhale helps me with that. Most of the time, anyway.
Katrina Simeck
I still owe you a reply! Got interrupted by the whole car nonsense.
Katrina Simeck
thank you Lindsey!
Katrina Simeck
I’ve been looking around for stainless – I’m sold!
Katrina Simeck
oh how I adore you.
Katrina Simeck
I need a full Parenthood marathon weekend.