Mantra- "Empty Boat" - Zen Story

On a fogy morning, a person is out for a row. Out of the fog, a second boat arrives heading straight for the first boat. The person in the first boat stand and begins to shout at the second boat: "Hey watch out! I just painted my boat. Where did you learn how to row you idiot!"

As the second boat arrives, the person rowing is realizes the second boat has no rower- empty boat.

There are many interpretations of this story but it's main teaching is one of impermanence and non-judgement. Things just happen in life. Sometimes there is no one to blame. We create a story of intention about the second rower. Brené Brown says: "What is the story we are telling ourselves?"

Sometimes we get an email that has a 'tone' ... we lay in bed fretting about what the 'tone' might mean... We spiral into a judgment / shame loop. - Worried about social judgement. But often the truth is - the person was running late and fired off an quick email. All that rumination for what!?! We tell ourselves stories, blame others.... but the truth is - the boat is always empty. Mantra - Empty boat

Let it go.... people are far less interested about you.

Empty Boat at the post office - OR - create a huge story about the slow person in front of you trying to make you late for your appointment.

Empty boat during the staff meeting - OR - Make up a story about jealousy, power and politics.

Be mindful! Notice the moment with out judgment and you will feel free! Empty boat for everything! - it is a much easier way to live

Poem by Bernadette Noll
"I Want to Age Like Sea Glass"

I want to age like sea glass. Smoothed by tides, not broken.

I want the currents of life to toss me around, shake me up and leave me feeling washed clean.

I want my hard edges to soften as the years pass -- made not weak, but supple.

I want to ride the waves, go with the flow, feel the impact of the surging tides rolling in and out.

When I am thrown against the shore and caught between the rocks and a hard place, I want to rest there until I can find the strength to do what is next.

Not stuck -- just waiting, pondering, feeling what it feels like to pause. And when I am ready, I will catch a wave and let it carry me along to the next place that I am supposed to be.

I want to age like sea glass so that when people see the old person I'll become, they'll embrace all that I am.
They'll marvel at my exquisite nature, hold me gently in their hands and be awed by my well-earned patina.

Neither flashy nor dull, just the right luster. And they'll wonder, if just for a second, what it is exactly I am made of and how I got to be in this very here and now.

And we'll both feel lucky to realize, once again, that we have landed in that perfectly right place at that profoundly right time.

I want to age like sea glass. I want to enjoy the journey and let my preciousness be, not in spite of the impacts of life, but because of them.

Have you ever had a conflict with someone in your life - then have a ‘fake’ argument with that person in your head. They often sound like:
“ Oh yeah... then I would say this..., and win the argument. The person would miraculously see the error of their ways and apologize ”

Rumination!!!! - mindfulness slows down the number of fake arguments you have in your head. Freeing up time to enjoy the present moment.

Joy can only be found in this moment.

Advertising tell us “ you’re not good enough unless you buy this product”. The messages we receive sound like : you stink unless you buy this deodorant, you should be on a diet, you are uncool without these clothes, you are not successful unless you have this car... etc.
BS!!!

You are enough! You where born perfect! There is noting to fix! Be a bad ass and love yourself. (It really freaks people out)