flotation device- july 8

floatation device

Literally afloat this morning. We survived the July 4th holiday week and had the pond to ourselves again- blessedly quiet. Even the ducks and cormorants were out. I was considering my morning yoga and meditation but the water claimed me. I will admit that I used to find these floating chaise lounges a bit ridiculous out on the pond (they seem more suited for pools) but that was before I bought one. They are actually works of art and after a half hour of floating I felt better than I would have in the air-conditioned house in my half-lotus.

Floating in sight of the water lilies, held aloft by the water myself, defying gravity, with the warm sun on my skin- ahhhhh. Having a strong guilt meter, there was some guilt, at first, thinking of others less fortunate. I have no answer to the question of why some people have more good fortune than others. My Irish grandmother used to say that we all had our crosses to bear. Though that is a too heavily-laden Catholic idea for my tastes there is still truth to it. As my mind drifted through those thoughts, imagining the homeless, refugees, soldiers, I came to the memory of being admonished repeatedly as a child to eat everything on your plate- children are starving in China. And the idea came to me- could I float for them?

When my busy mind- that the Dalai Lama has called a wild horse- had finally exhausted itself, I breathed in and out and just existed there afloat on the pond, no questions and no answers. 100%. That may be the secret, to give yourself completely, everywhere, all the time, with a peaceful mind. That is why we live here after all. To live a better, simpler life, our priorities shifted.

Ashore again I thought of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock… verses of which I am fond of repeating to myself-