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Run-walk-run. Oscillate. Meditate. Alternate.
Many of my favorite teachers over the years draw on related themes: Jeff Galloway advises running marathons with frequent walk breaks. Loehr and Schwartz's Corporate Athlete oscillates between productive effort and recovery. RIck Hanson coaches us to develop our Buddha's Brain with mindful reflection. Moore and Hammerness alternate between focus and creativity to Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life.
As I have practiced incorporating ebb and flow into my own patterns, I have experimented with options for the "recovery" cycle. Naps are a perennial favorite. Snacks are tempting but have their downside. Social networking can pull me in deeper and longer than I intend.
In the last few years, I have become a fan of "beauty breaks." They are not fattening, and often come in prepackaged serving sizes that fit a busy day: Read a poem. Leaf through an art book. Listen to a single piece of music. Take a picture. Sit on the porch. Doodle.
OK, so that's the Beauty. What about the Beast? In this story, the Beast is my love of technology. I often apologize for the electronic toys that populate my life. There are plenty of arguments against the time we spend wired into smart phones, tablets, readers, media players, and the like. On the other hand, technology has become a welcome partner in my search for beauty.
I discovered YouTube when I bought the tablet. I had no idea what a treasure I was about to discover. I have searched for favorite speakers and authors, and have enjoyed seeing them and hearing as well as reading about their insights. I have found my favorite music, from classical to folk; gut-busting humor; the beauty of nature, art and architecture; guided visualizations; and inspiring moments from the world of sport.
Beauty is found in those brief moments of clarity when ordinary experience transcends its bounds. I have been surprised and delighted to discover the miracle of online beauty. The Beast of technology has many faces, and some of them are lovely.
What do you find the most uplifting and inspiring about the technology in your life? What constitutes a beauty break for you?
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