Just a little kiss of the Eastern Townships
for a buddy out west from me and Jane.
When you come east again - you have friends here.
L

The most important person in your life is yourselves- first and foremost. And you must make sure the outer shell of your being is in decent enough shape to house the wisp of inner being/ego-id/essence.

If the body is in pain one can't enjoy existence. So take care of the body first. Then make sure you have enough money to pay the bills and do not spend what you don't have or are not capable of paying back in short order.

If you are unhappy create a strategy to take yourself away from the distraction that is causing this state of mind. If it is medical, then focus on all the other positives outside the distraction.

Remember to 'do' -absolutely nothing- for 5 minutes every second day, to focus on the inner wisp of being - the inner spark that drives your body shell around.

The only action in this exercise/experiment, is to simply "not do". ..not look, not plan next moves, not think about family, not think about an uncomfortable lotus position-so sit in a chair, back straight, chin up, hands on thighs,- outside or inside...just consciously "do not" DO -and just exist. Focus on the fabric of "essential present time" reality.

This is not easy, but the more often you do it the better your appreciation of life as a conscious being will become. Some other nifty things begin to occur also.

Try -in everything you do to - go slow.

Experience the 'present moment' and stretch it.

Savor your activity, job, dinner, walk in the woods, chat with your partner, your mother, father,brother or sister...listen to their voice carefully and try to associate with their inner being and not just the identifying outer traits of their persona.

Look at the face, skin, mannerisms -see the child they once were. That person contains an inner essence. Have you every really been aware of it;connected with it? This is where that candle light dinner and looking into the eyes comes into play. Try to see inside.

Go slow and do not be bullied by clients, your own "to-do"list or anything else. Just consciously take each moment as it comes and consume it like ice cream. Moments of time, like pocket change is the only real currency we have. Don't blow it. Seek the flavor of existence. We really don't need much of anything when it gets to this point and there is no such thing as boredom.

And go outside - breathe deep.