Friday, March 18, 2016

you wonder at the flux

Space and Time are always moving. Except for time. Time is an odd bit of human thinking. We use it to track the movement of space, but we take it personally. "oh, he's gotten old!" or "it seems like only yesterday." In the big picture, time is Now and space is Here. That's it. Here and Now, Anything more, and you're guessing. Anything less, and you're living in a memory which is,  most probably, not very accurate. As my Pop used to say: "stop guessing!"

It's really important to sit quietly and establish here and now. The only way to effect "then" is by being mindful in the here and now.  See things as they are,  think in a way that supports a positive outcome and  speak in a way that explains and describes your thinking, with no intention of gain or loss to speaker or listener. 

If I can get through one day without trying to be cool or "the smartest guy in the room" I am closer to being happy.

l see my life as continuous process improvement. I have Dr. W. Edwards Deming to thank for that.  When asked by someone how long they would have to accomplish what Deming called "The Aim", he answered: "As long as you live, young man. No longer."

That's the way of Zen, supported by the mental discipline of mindfulness and concentration, we pursue to take the right actions in the right livelihood, using the right effort.  In the same way that Deming's Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle goes on and on, the Great Wheel turns forever, driven by the steps we take on the path.

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