Life: Every Day a New Dawn

And new opportunity – to share, grow, exercise, work, play, smile, and be grateful.

These last couple weeks have provided yet another roller-coaster of emotions for me – mostly ups though. I have had to plan – agonizing about what to do this fall: go to London or stay in Montana (I chose London); and figuring out what to do this summer: eek out an MA here and be a wreck going to London or relax here and prepare for my Ph.D. studies (I chose to relax, prepare, learn some more Spanish).

I’ve had some wonderful visits with friends, old and new. I had iced cream with my ex-girlfriend from four years ago. It was wonderful for us each to simply come together and visit as friends, no tension of attraction, no aversion or anger, just sweetness and a hug. I met up also with Ms Patia, an eloquent blogger, fantastic photographer and fellow UM worker. After passing comments back and forth for over a year and bumping into each other only once in person, it was great to sit down for lunch and talk.

The next day I was off to the mountains east of Missoula for a dinner with yet another near-stranger. I have long been on an online discussion list of folks, mostly MDs and doctorates in psychology who are working to bring empirical science to meditation and vise versa, and one such discussant is Jan, a former surgeon from near here. I emailed her suggesting a get together, she suggested dinner at her ranch, and off I went. It turns out she is in many ways ‘me’ only thirty years older, having traveled the spiritual path this way and that for several decades, collecting countless stories along the way.

Finally, even that night as I was preparing to meet Jan on Thursday, I got a call from Larry, a good friend from my first Buddhism class, who happens to be a retired Catholic with a lovely house near Seeley Lake (about an hour drive from Missoula). He invited me up for the weekend and I made my way up Friday afternoon. So Friday and Saturday were spent there, relaxing, walking in the forests, meditating, drinking beers, talking philosophy and religion (in short having a wonderful time). Oh, and I got some very helpful advice on the following issue from Larry and his wife Linda (who is from Nicaragua).

The only real downer came from Ana needing more space, freedom – and me not knowing what that means or what to do; only knowing that she is unhappy and feeling the same in turn. Here what can I do? Just let her know I love her and support her and hope that she finds the happiness or contentment she needs in this new space and freedom.