Shaky

Injury is an interesting thing, much like ‘accidents’. Not all of them seem to have meaning, but there are certainly some which seem to. I have never been clear whether the meaningful failures are proof of providence or of a growing ability to see the good in all things and to learn from mistakes.

My SI joint injury made me realize that going back to the bar (bell) was not a wise choice of action- too many hurts meant something serious needed addressing. I’m thick-headed but can learn, albeit slowly.

I am a list maker by inclination. But most of my lists were looking rather shallow of late. I began trying to get to the roots of what I meant from the things on my goal list, and get to a point that was pretty clear. The ‘answer’ or method of achieving/improving about six of ten items on my post injury list was ‘yoga’. So I rooted around and decided (thanks Claudia!) on a teacher. It has been quite excellent. Simultaneously I began working on meditation and looking towards Buddhism for some general guidance.

One of the things I find interesting about Buddhism is that I don’t consider it a religion. Mind you I am not a Buddhist (though I do exhibit Buddhist tendencies!) but it seems that the modern interpretation of ‘religion’ includes some form of God or Gods, which I don’t see present in Buddha’s teaching.

The basics are, I think, expressed in a Kelly Joe Phelps song Big Shaky:

“I want clear eyes
Clean hands
I want to be a good man.”

Still finding my seat on the cushion and finding my breath and balance in yoga, but things feel solid. House is good and the guitar is getting interesting again. No complaints.