Appreciate Your Life.

This week’s topic for reflection is, “Appreciate your life.” Let’s start with the word appreciate. This means to not go through life half asleep not caring but really be aware that you are alive. Notice the life all around. You don’t have to do anything different, just notice those around you. Really take them in. Notice the changing season and weather. How does it feel? How do you react to how it feels? Is it possible to appreciate your life without appreciating others?

Slow down. Put the screen down, put down whatever you’re chasing or whatever is chasing you. Let go of unnecessary distractions and business. Take the time to notice a flower or your spouse. Appreciate that they are a gift. During Zen retreats we slow way down and get still. This allows space to emerge which opens us up.

How is it possible to appreciate pain and discomfort? It certainly creates an opportunity for compassion and empathy toward others having pain and discomfort. This empathy gives life meaning and purpose. There are so many ways to be helpful in life. Life’s challenges can be opportunities for growth. Appreciate them instead of resisting them.

Appreciate the stars in the sky and the ground covered with fallen leaves. I was in a parking lot one crisp autumn day when a woman with a large smile said to me, “Isn’t it a marvelous day?” Yes, and share your appreciation.

Please join us for morning Zoom zazen from 7:00 to 7:30 Tuesday and Thursday, and Sunday morning Zoom zazen and discussion of the topic for reflection blog from 8:00 to 9:00 Pacific Time. Here’s the Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81161003357?pwd=M0gwRjBENHZDbndUcFRrK004NlQ5Zz09

Meeting ID: 811 6100 3357

Passcode: 278259

Gassho,

Futai