Searching for a parking place is a waste of time!
Have you ever wondered why you decided to go downtown?
The thought crossed my mind yesterday afternoon as I circled blocks under overcast skies. Huge tall buildings, honking cars, taxis, wide clumps of people crossing when their light turned green.
Noticing your environment is not “working” the way you want is actually a sort of funny, busy, nit-picky little voice that loves to assess the imperfection of just about any situation.
Oh, I thought I would already be parked, and inside a cafe working on my computer by now. Why are all those people waving flags and dressed in football costumes? Where is that parking garage entrance again (as I passed it for the second time)? It’s HOW MUCH to park?!!
Whose bright idea was this to come downtown?
The thing is, this type of viewpoint can happen in ANY environment.
Just when you think it’s quiet, nurturing, relaxing….you notice a fly that won’t stop buzzing, you wish you had some company, your time is up and you have to leave now, the music they’re playing is annoying, or you have to go to the bathroom and its a long way to the closest WC.
It’s one thing to be at a stress-level volume of a 1…but what about a 5? We won’t even discuss a 10…like being in the middle of a war zone, or a strange unexpected accident.
Somehow no matter what level, its when you notice there is a sense of being resistant to what’s going on.
It happened before I knew it. I don’t like this. Get me outta here. Bad idea.
What a waste of time, I’m losing out, oh fer gawd sakes….that’s a One Way?
This is not heaven.
Oops.
Really?
I took a deep breath. All of the sudden, like coming up from being underwater, the questions…almost like a feeling of warmth entering in…
Are you sure this is frustrating and annoying, and too uncertain, too crowded, too loud?
Well. No.
How do you react when you believe it has to be unfolding differently than it is?
How do you react when you think you should be parked by now? Out of the car, not inside of the car? For free, or with the cheapest deal you can find?
What happens when you start to think that what is happening is your fault, that you got yourself into this mess and you’re a dork, you should have thought of a different option…blah blah blah…?
Yes, even during a little moment in life like this one?
Stress enters the body, everything seems to be centered around ME, even when I’m noticing other fascinating, interesting things cross my vision or my hearing, I ignore them.
I decide my environment is meaningless, stupid. It’s a mistake. I shouldn’t be here. I squeeze the steering wheel.
Who would you be without the thought that your environment is not optimum, that your surroundings are a little too scary, or expensive, or loud, or strange?
Without that thought that it’s your own damn fault for deciding to come to this place! Jeez!
I smile. I realize that this place is absolutely fascinating. There are people and stuff and moving parts and sounds and colors EVERYWHERE.
Without the thought, I pick the next parking garage. All is well. There’s no perfect “free” parking.
I notice the garage is very quiet. I notice I can move this body and this car from there to here at any time, no one stopping me.
The freedom to come and go is actually astounding. Open choice, every moment.
“Though walking down the street doesn’t seem like a lot to some people, to me it’s a whole world, it’s my secret world, where I’m always serving everyone and everything, as they serve me.” ~ Byron Katie
Inside a cafe, as I wait for my son and then my daughter, I notice its so incredibly quiet in here, the server is such a dear young man, he makes my hot drink with care and attention, he says “yes” there is free wi-fi.
I stare out at the scenery instead of looking at my computer. The bright lights of the Macy’s Department store, pristine shining floors, a woman trying perfumes and having her man smell them, people so happy.
I realize that I became afraid for a moment. The level of movement and activity and total chaos made me nervous. I was threatened. Like when people yell at others in traffic who feel anxious about getting hurt.
“You want people to be steady enough so that you can predict their behavior. If they aren’t it disturbs you. This is because you have made your predictions of their behavior part of your inner model. This protective shield of beliefs and concepts regarding the outside world acts as insulation between you and the people you interact with.” ~ Michael Singer
Without the shield of “thinking” between me and this wild environment, I look around with wonder. Absolute amazement.
Oh, maybe this is heaven after all. I forgot for a second.
Much Love, Grace