Housekeeping

just finished up my housekeeping rotation at the Centre and it seems a little housekeeping is in order here, in the way of some observations about my best days…

• i started out hoovering and cleaning from the mind of one who expected to do this one thing, the hoovering, the wiping, the stacking, the moving as if i would do it forever. this seemed to make more space for me to work.
• i noticed that everything i did was quickly undone and i came to expect that, without minimizing the contribution and importance of doing it.
• i noticed that nothing i did was really important, but i enjoyed it anyway.
• i looked for extra things to do, things others needed, contributions that were outside the job description, things that i wanted to do and could do and offer in my own way. these, too, made more space for me to work.
• i noticed the messes i made, the things i forgot to do, the things i avoided, and the things left half-finished in distraction. i noticed, too, the things that other did before i could get to them. this made more space for everybody.
• i appreciated the compassion and kindness of the community here, which allowed me to notice that most often the pushing and pressure to do well or fast or right arises somewhere internally, in the comfort of my own mind.
• i noticed that there is no way to finish the work here, only contribute and enjoy along the way. i have practiced letting my shoulders slide down and rest where they belong, hanging loosely at the bottom of my neck. i’ve practice jangling a bit as i bop around with bits of three or four or five different tasks in my hands at once.
• i notice again the value and importance of care, connection, attention, space, compassion, mutuality, pulsation, contribution, offering, receiving, humor, laughing, leftovers, peanut butter, bran flakes, brown rice, fresh kale, broccoli, olive oil, red pepper and brie cheese, and dsl are to my well-being.

starting into a more stable scheduling routine as kitchen yogi (cook’s assistant) now, expecting more time for playing with jill, online projects, walking around the big city, and taking tea with friends of friends.