On a typical Saturday morning in Dallas, my son Hank and I decided to turn an ordinary errand into something extraordinary—by dressing as Buddy the Elf and Napoleon Bonaparte.
Thank you these observations, Aaron. They resonate as true for me. My wife has pegged me as an extrovert and a performer (my word, not hers, which is a tad less charitable). I did some theater and singing performance in high school and college, and remember the first time as a little boy I donned my sister’s fall and imitated her for my mother and aunt, making them laugh hysterically. So, yes there is some element in me that likes to wear a “mask” or “costume” and perform for others. And yet for about 24 years now I have had a meditation practice, mostly Zen but also insight meditation at times. I credit that practice with helping me
come to the realization that there is something deeply meaningful about the moments when I can be fully present in the present moment no matter the circumstances, with someone else, offering them my full presence, sitting quietly alone in nature or sitting inside facing a wall, washing dishes, doing work at my job, anything really. Those moments when I can be fully alive and present (or aware), but not self-conscious, they transcend those moments of performance at least those when the performance is egoic. (Of course, there can equally be times when I might be present and aware in performance but not self-conscious. I remember such moments in my abbreviated performance career as a young man.) It is in those all-to-fleeting moments when I capture a glimpse of a reality that can be elusive for me, the reality that, to borrow a phrase from Buddhism, this samsara is nirvana, that there is a unity of all that is. Those moments are sacred. Thank you for the reminder. Blessings.
Thank you for this reflection, Charles! I share a part of myself that is comfortable performing for others at times. I’m interested to hear how the meditative practice overlaps with this for you. I have a similar experience when practice like that helps me tune more into what I am directly experiencing in the day to day. Fully alive but not self conscious - what a great way to put it!
What a great story and observations. I've been traveling basically full-time for the past couple years and it's VERY much turned me into an observer and a chatter. Most everyone is happy to talk, and be noticed. And my curiosity must be satisfied, so I definitely would've asked about your costumers.
Thanks, Emily! What a wonderful opportunity to travel like this and observe all that humanity! I’m sure the list is too long for a simple comment, but any major ways it has changed you?
This is beautiful and something I needed today. Thank you.
Thank you, Jeanette. I am glad it resonated with you!
Thanks, that you hardly noticed says a lot about the state of humanity.
Perfect! I am going to do this next summer!
Thank you these observations, Aaron. They resonate as true for me. My wife has pegged me as an extrovert and a performer (my word, not hers, which is a tad less charitable). I did some theater and singing performance in high school and college, and remember the first time as a little boy I donned my sister’s fall and imitated her for my mother and aunt, making them laugh hysterically. So, yes there is some element in me that likes to wear a “mask” or “costume” and perform for others. And yet for about 24 years now I have had a meditation practice, mostly Zen but also insight meditation at times. I credit that practice with helping me
come to the realization that there is something deeply meaningful about the moments when I can be fully present in the present moment no matter the circumstances, with someone else, offering them my full presence, sitting quietly alone in nature or sitting inside facing a wall, washing dishes, doing work at my job, anything really. Those moments when I can be fully alive and present (or aware), but not self-conscious, they transcend those moments of performance at least those when the performance is egoic. (Of course, there can equally be times when I might be present and aware in performance but not self-conscious. I remember such moments in my abbreviated performance career as a young man.) It is in those all-to-fleeting moments when I capture a glimpse of a reality that can be elusive for me, the reality that, to borrow a phrase from Buddhism, this samsara is nirvana, that there is a unity of all that is. Those moments are sacred. Thank you for the reminder. Blessings.
Thank you for this reflection, Charles! I share a part of myself that is comfortable performing for others at times. I’m interested to hear how the meditative practice overlaps with this for you. I have a similar experience when practice like that helps me tune more into what I am directly experiencing in the day to day. Fully alive but not self conscious - what a great way to put it!
I love this quote: You’ll stop caring what people think about you when you realize how seldom they do. - David Foster Wallace
Your story illustrates this oh so well.
Great quote, Georgie - thank you!
"the shift from needing to be seen to valuing what we see" really resonated with me! thank you.
Thank you Adriana! I’m glad to hear it resonated with you
What a great story and observations. I've been traveling basically full-time for the past couple years and it's VERY much turned me into an observer and a chatter. Most everyone is happy to talk, and be noticed. And my curiosity must be satisfied, so I definitely would've asked about your costumers.
Thanks, Emily! What a wonderful opportunity to travel like this and observe all that humanity! I’m sure the list is too long for a simple comment, but any major ways it has changed you?