Today’s Activity: Sit, Watch, Experience, Be.

I am sitting on the edge of the water. A duck drifts by – well, I know it only looks like it is drifting ... as the old story goes – he looks calm on top but underneath he is probably paddling like mad – but drifting is good enough for me today. It fits with my mood.

Another bird descends, skims across the water and lines up beside the duck. They drift together. Going nowhere. Ripples break the surface, move across the water, calming as they move, eventually disappearing. Near the edge branches from nearby trees drop down, almost, but not quite brushing the water. Waving just above the surface, tempting fate. The sun reflects on tiny pieces of grass and weeds floating on stream “the birds pick at them casually as they drift by, expending no real effort, just a casual reaching out. They are in no hurry to get anywhere ... or to eat, it seems.

Neither am I.

I’m feeling a bit like the duck – just drifting along – having one of those lazy mornings where nothing seems more important than just sitting here – watching, experiencing, being. Everything else seems, well, a little bit irrelevant, even though somewhere in the back of my mind I know there are important, pressing things calling out to me. I ignore their voices for the moment.

And of course, I can’t help it, I am thinking.

Thinking about what a fine moment this is, thinking about how fortunate I am to just sit here, thinking about what a nice thing this would be to do with a young person – especially one whose days are filled with “troubles”. Just you and that young person – sitting, watching, experiencing, be-ing. Ignoring those other, demanding, voices.

Sitting someplace calm, watching whatever happens. Experiencing self, other, the moment and whatever happens. Being together, being with other, being with self. Being in the moment, with the moment.

So, that’s today’s activity. Sit, watch, experience, be.

And if you’re not with a young person, do it with your family, or a friend, or ... by yourself.

You can always rush later.

Thom

Cape Town, 2 July 2005