Shopping and zen

For a long time I have said that our local shopping centre was built on a portal to hell. Nothing good ever happened there. It simply sucked the life, cheer, money and joy from you. It is a place I avoid as much as possible.

Despite my best intentions and planning, it was necessary to visit this dreaded place on christmas eve. Yes, we ventured out to the stores on Christmas Eve. Oh the Insanity! There was traffic on the roads, few parking spaces and people everywhere. I had a concise list to work through that meant I would be visiting around half a dozen stores.

People were throwing insults at each other, running trolleys into unsuspecting ankles, exchanging hollow Christmas wishes, cutting people off in the queues at the register and absent-mindedly blocking walkways. My partner was so grumpy (in response to the less than cheerful environment) I had resorted to calling him “Bah! Humbug!”, and he was answering to it.

The interesting thing, and the point of the post, is that I didn’t notice any of this. Well, I guess I noticed it because I can recall it, but it had no effect on me. No effect at all. I happily went about my business, gathering all the missing pieces for my Christmas Day celebrations without a thought or judgement about what was happening around me. I had no agenda or expectation, simply a task to complete.

The result -  I was home in an hour and a half from when I left my driveway. I was cheerful all morning. I got a parking straight away. Everybody was nice to me. The experience was possibly one of my most relaxed at the mall… ever!

I was in a zen like state! A walking meditation through the mall. Totally untouched by stress ad angst around me. Now if only I can live my whole life that way...

2009 fare thee well

I have seen many a blog, Facebook update and Tweet bidding 2009 farewell with curse and the finger. While I have had better years, 2009 taught me a lot. So instead of cursing it here is a little summary of the useful lessons and useless facts I learned in 2009:

• Qantas is an acronym.
• There is only so much I can achieve in a day.
• Australia has hornets, and they are non-agressive.
• Real freedom is freedom to do what you must, not what you choose.
• Worry is pointless. Real trouble blindsides you.
• Retail therapy isn’t a solution; it’s part of the problem.
• The ability to be flexible and decisive both stems from self-trust.
• That the loving answer isn’t always ‘yes’.
• That the person who cares the least controls the relationship.
• Balance will reassert itself, whether we like it or not.
• Honest feedback is invaluable.
• Lasting change is incremental, more often than monumental.
• Sometimes the dice are loaded. Thats when we earn our stripes.
• When you make a mistake, trust your instincts. You know how to fix it

Above all else 2009 has taught me that we are measured by what we have learned to love.