Category Archives: toexport

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Yesterday’s stillness was to pick one of 75 pleasures and

take time to enjoy it. Show us in a photo

Well I did a few of those things yesterday, but I don’t think I paid much heed. I had a better chance this afternoon. A walk, a seat beside the loch, a wee bit of stillness.

I have become a bit more aware about how I am skipping by these chances to quickly.

I am finding the daily stillness almost always interesting. I don’t always respond publicly, sometimes I am too busy, sometimes I want to keep my response to myself. I am particularly enjoying the recycling of the exercises.

I am reminded of Jin Shengtan’s list of 33 happy moments, I’ve just found these on tumblr but I read them ia an old secondhand book many years ago.

13.

It has been raining for a whole month and I lie in bed in the morning like one drunk or ill, refusing to get up. Suddenly I hear a chorus of birds announcing a clear day. Quickly I pull aside the curtain, push open a window and see the beautiful sun shining and glistening and the forest looks like it has had a bath.

Ah, is this not happiness?

from: 33 Happy Moments, 13.

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Pick a colour for the day. Notice it anywhere you go. Take photos. Pick the best one to show us. Did you notice that setting an intention to notice something, helped you pay attention and be more aware of your surroundings?

Thursday was a lovely day a bit of frost and a clear sky. unfortunately I was stuck indoors all day. I thought I’d wait till the weekend.

As atonement for not doing it on the right day I decided on yellow as I thought that would be hard.

Saturday started a dreach damp day sleet, rain and wet snow. I still managed to find plenty of yellow.

I love these simple challenges best of all this morning yellow shone out like lights. I didn’t even take gave of the opportunities.

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Today, print the article, find a path, walk it and then sit down to enjoy the article after your walk.

The walk round Ardinning today was transformed by the snow. The last time I was here is was damp and boggy. Much better walking today with the ground frozen under the new snow. The odd slippy bit.

The snow brings the attention closer. Shapes are smoothed out and detail emphasised. Sounds are muffled and amplified at the same time. Detail of a nearby hill looms out of the white making it hard to judge the distance. Falling snow seems to reflect the landscape into the sky.

I didn’t print the linked passage, but read it with Reader View which cuts back distraction.

It seems fairly familiar ground to me, I’ve long thought walking as important in lots of ways. I tend toward the countryside and much shorted distances than Gros.

He dislikes an interrupted, uneven rhythm of a city walk. All my walks are interrupted, I stop, stare, snap pictures, examine droppings and dead animals. I also puff and pant uphill so need stops at uneven distances.

I love the interstitial, walking along the canal which is silting and slipping back to the countryside.

The final get up, get out and walk finds no argument here.

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is sit still. How long can you allow yourself to do this simple thing today?

The simplest thing you can do | The Daily Stillness

Reading the post I am sitting on the couch.

I start by considering the black faced gull. On a rock surrounded by waves. Single purposed.

My legs are crossed and my foot gives involuntary bobs to my heart beat.

The traffic looms in and out of my hearing, later I notice the wind too.

I decide that moving eyes do not count and lift them from the screen. Yellow roses, a tangle of chargers, books.

My back is like a question mark, my glasses squint. The phone screen has gone black.

My wife is moving through the house. I am not sure if I want her to come in and ask me to go for the paper. This is pleasant and slightly unpleasant at the same time.

I breathe, think of making this post, wonder if I should have set a timer.

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