Falling Pine Cones, Released Tensions and A Last Day

At work I noticed that a lot of pine cones were falling from the trees. At first I thought nothing of a few falling as I walked under one tree on the lower lawn. By the end of they day they seemed to be raining down. There was virtually no movement to the wind, so it was certainly not that. However, on careful inspection of the upper branches of one tree, I was able to discover a pair of squirrels. Were they dropping the cones in order to collect them from the ground later? They do need to start their harvest, as the colder weather is approaching.

I finished up everything I needed to at work. Today is most likely the last day I will ever work at that location, and for Archibald Drilling and Blasting. It has been a rewarding half decade with them, and I have no regret in accepting the offer to work for them. It’s hard to believe I was just 16 when I began my work as a grounds keeper. I could not think of a summer job which I would have found as beneficial. I will miss the time outdoors and with nature, but that time has served me well and brought me greater peace.

It’s certainly time for something new. 5 years may not seem long, but it has been a time of great growth in my life. Now is the time to move forward and make a true effort to fulfill my goals.

My daily reading of The Tao of Inner Peace again consisted of two chapters. This pace seems even more comfortable than the slower one chapter a day, and I belive it is because of the interconnectedness of these practices and thought.

The first focused on releasing tension, tension and emotions, Taoist yoga, Taoist breathing, T’ai Chi, dancing and walking. It was an insightful chapter that allowed me to focus on ways I can increase my physical path to peace. I do plan to begin a regular walking schedule, which will include time at the cemetery for meditation. I may also take a class in yoga, T’ai Chi or some other discipline once winter arrives.

I briefly practiced some example exercises from the book, and I can tell they would prove beneficial. I must work to create both an environment and a schedule which will allow me to experiment with what combinations of activities best suit my personality. One aspect I need to focus on is a morning pattern that will include some sort of peace-inducing act.

The second chapter was about something I have been actively participating in already: simplicity. The topics covered included simplicity in a changing world, seeking simple solutions, creating patterns of stability, simplifying sensory overload, knowing when enough is enough, simplifying our possessions, the politics of simplicity, seeking security beyond illusions, simplifying knowledge, simplifying communication and simplifying time. While I had focused on simplifying my possessions greatly, the other aspects of simplification should prove to increase my progress.

The entire process told of in The Tao of Inner Peace has been both a joy and a challenge. I can already see the benefits in my daily life, and I know I will continue on this path of inner peace for the rest of my life. There is just something about this system that feels more right than anything else I have undertaken, and my belief in it is strengthening through true experience.

Affirmation:
I now know my life is peaceful and harmonious.
Aware of my energies, I remember to nurture and restore them.
Releasing all tension, I relax into deeper awareness.
I follow my own inner music.
I simplify my life.
I release unnecessary possessions.
I follow my inner guidance and the wisdom of Tao.
I communicate simply and honestly.
I use my time wisely.
I respect myself and the process.
I harmonize with nature and all others in my world.
I accept greater peace in my life now.
And so it is.

I must remember to post to LJ… my main journal is so much easier to update now that I often forget.