Author: Jim Gohrick (Page 1 of 155)

I know the title is redundant, but it bears worth saying.

There’s not much that I do these days that doesn’t have a whole lot of intention behind my actions. Whether that is physically working out, to what I put in my mouth, to sitting quietly and/or finding down time for myself.

But, just like anyone, I can find myself getting distracted and doing things that don’t have much meaning for me. I can get caught up on my phone like everyone else and realize I’ve just spent the last 25 minutes watching You Tube videos. But, even then, I would argue that there can be intention behind this time as well. I am specific about what videos I watch and feel like it touches upon my interests and passion to some degree. It’s when we go on auto-pilot and mentally check-out is when we get into trouble. At that point we are on someone else’s agenda and not our own.

Everyone needs a little bit something, as long as we’re keeping our awareness at the forefront so that we don’t end up wasting our precious time on this earth.

I use to believe that “down time” was being lazy. That disconnecting from the rest of the world to sit in silence – wherever you may be – and entertain random thoughts forming in your mind was a frivolous waste of time. That idea is changing and quickly becoming the small glimmer of a lifeline saving me from – well, from myself.

More and more I’m coming to realize the necessity of having opportunities throughout our day to exhale both physically and metaphorically. We need this break in the action – this opportunity to float weightless through space in no particular direction. Here we can possibly find ourselves. If we’re willing to be patient and listen.

Here we may be able to re-charge, re-set and re-new our intentions and become more focused on what’s important to us. Just by being okay to be bored.

I’m not referring to binging on a TV show for three days on the couch while eating junk food to occupy your mind. I’m referring to being by yourself to allow thoughts, ideas and daydreams to pop up in our minds and disappear without a trace. Maybe a silent retreat in a cabin in the woods without any internet or cell service. Or a long hike by yourself. It could be 20 minutes out of your day after eating lunch to sit quietly taking in the environment around you.

Maybe we can do much more to do much less.

There hasn’t been many experiences in my life where I regretted staying calm and assessing the situation before responding even though a more exuberant response would have been justified.

Another words, cooler heads generally prevail.

Why? We can always re-visit the situation and “add” to our initial response if we feel we weren’t appropriate with the way we reacted. But, once we respond – and whatever that response looks like – we can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.

This is why I pretty sure more times than not, cooler heads prevail.

Besides, there have been more times than not, where I reacted in a large and blustery way without knowing all of the circumstances only to look like a “yahoo” after the fact.

I’ve always had little patience for small talk. Chit-chat doesn’t really appeal to me. Maybe it’s because as I become older I have a developed sense of my limited time on this earth. Then again, maybe it’s because I’m just a Grumpy Pants.

Either way, a deep connection with those who are willing to share their deepest fears, regrets, hopes, dreams and short-comings seem to be the kind of people I feel a kindred spirit to hang with.

Now, let’s be clear; these kinds of relationships take time. It’s the long game. And it’s not for everyone. There is a whole lot of trust that needs to be built up between the two in order to get to the next level, but no doubt, once it takes hold there’s not a whole lot to stop this bond.

Now, this kind of relationship interests me.

Even the word itself sounds so heavenly when coming out of your mouth.

It has several meanings, but my favorite is: a virtue coming from God.

It sounds so divine. So romantic. It’s one of my most sought after qualities. One that I’m not sure I’ll ever obtain in any permanence.

There was a quote from the book “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse that always come to mind for me. It’s when Siddhartha himself sees the Buddha. He carefully observes him walking from across the room or on the plaza. From head to toe, to every minute movement, he marveled at the amount of grace he carried as he moved through the space. He could only wish he could have as much grace as the Buddha had flowing through his pinky finger.

Sometimes – most of the time, I wish I could find the grace with which to move through my day. Maybe just enough to fill the tip of my small finger.