I'm Content . . . . Ish

 "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."                                                                 Teddy Roosevelt

If someone suggests that I join the Olympic volleyball team I'd quickly point out that I haven't had the training or developed the skills or even allowed time for this to happen.  I wouldn't assume that I was ready to play volleyball at that level.  I need to remember this ridiculous analogy when I ponder meditation or spiritual growth or the capacity to turn around the Seaweed battleship that has been steaming along for years in total self-absorption and ponder actually giving a shit about anyone else.  All this takes time and practice.  The important thing for me to remember is that I just need to stick with it, keep at it, keep plugging away.  I can't expect to join the Olympics today, and I certainly can't expect to master the work of The Program, either.  Each takes a great deal of time to master the necessary skills.

I should post a GIF of some clod getting drilled in the face with a volleyball.  That's about as close to the Olympic volleyball team I'd ever get.  I'm a tackling dummy.  I'm a punching bag.

Meditation is a microcosm, a model, and a mirror.  Here are some of the benefits of a daily meditation practice:

~I learn how to stay in the moment.

~I practice letting go of judgements.  I'm meditating as best as I can and that's enough.  It's just like exercise - if someone is sedentary and begins to exercise moderately, then the physical gains are significant.  But moving from moderate to strenuous exercise, while providing additional benefits, isn't as important as getting started, as doing something.  I swim and I see too many new swimmers jump in the pool and try too hard to be an Olympic swimmer.

~I become aware of a calm, stable center that can steady me even when my life is in upheaval.

~I become kinder to myself.

~Because I've discovered a source of true calm I'm filled with more energy.

~I've become more self-reliant.  Because I can access this inner source of strength and calm I'm less dependant on other people or external circumstances to feel contentment.  When someone asks me if I'm happy I'm usually say something along the lines of "I'm often happy but more often I'm content."