Treat #76
: The Heart of Completing
This morning I went into the Ojai Coffee Roasting Company to get a Chai tea latte and was greeted by a sea of 4th graders together with their teacher all having hot chocolate and treats. It was pretty much wall-to-wall kids, except for the teacher and a couple of parents. The owner of the Roasting Company’s daughter is in the class and this was her day to show off her parents’ business and treat the kids to drinks.
The only other person in the Roaster was a guy I often see there working at a table on his computer. I was noticing his high degree of focus. The noise and commotion around him didn’t take him off purpose. He seemed quite content.
As I stood there waiting for my tea, I noticed how simple a choice it was to either react with annoyance or to include myself in what was taking place. I chose to expand and encompass all the sounds and activity around me and be a part of it.
One of the parent chaperones came over to me and thanked me for being okay with the class taking over the Roaster, knowing there was no place for me to sit and enjoy my tea. I told her I was actually enjoying being there and taking it all in. We got into a conversation about attention and she told me that their teacher gets everyone’s attention by drumming on live drums and they copy his rhythm. She has been in the room when he starts drumming and at once everyone stops what they are doing and immediately and starts drumming the rhythm of the sound.
For me that is a description of the heart of completing. Moving in one accord with what is taking place. This approach works far better than a teacher commanding everyone with their voice to get their attention.
It’s easy at this time of year to experience everything moving at a rapid pace with what seems like pressure in completing the holidays. Sometimes our initial reaction might not be one of moving into cooperation and, by moving into the rhythm of what is going on, we bring ourselves into our own one accord.
For me the one accord is the easiest when I give myself my full undivided attention to do what is in front of me regardless of the world around me.
My wish for you for this holiday and all the time is to let everything take you into the one accord of your heart.
Martha Invitations
1. Create a rhythm in your action by including all the sounds around you as part of your experience.
2. Drum on your desk to center your attention for completing. It’s actually fun.
3. Choose to enjoy completing what is in front of you to do regardless of the considerations.
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