Judith Warner does an Op-Extra blog for the New York Times called Domestic Disturbances. Her March 4, 2009 post “Being and Mindfulness” made fun of mindfulness in a friendly sort of way. It’s a playful piece with an edge that makes me want to respond.
Here is one of her points:
“…people who are embarked on this particular “journey of self-exploration” … tend to want to talk, or write about it. A lot….the truth is, however admirable mindfulness may be, however much peace, grounding, stability and self-acceptance it can bring, as an experience to be shared, it’s stultifyingly boring.”
I guess I am one of the guilty; this blog is exhibit one, Discovering Awareness exhibit two, and the various talks I’ve given to groups exhibit three. Seems to me Ms Warner has a point. Talking about awareness may be boring; however actually discovering awareness is seldom boring.
Here are two books that are both “stultifyingly boring” and invaluable. I love them both:
Nothing could be more boring that reading the directions for a hike in the Rockies; nothing could be more wonderful than hiking the Rockies.
Nothing could be more boring than reading a four recipies for a meal; nothing could be more wonderful than cooking and eating one of Alice Waters’s meals.
I take two things from Ms Warner’s piece: 1)Talk less. 2)Cook and Hike more.