A Monastic Activity

I’ve always been a guy that works. Work is my priority and has been for a long time. I’m not saying this is good, or bad, it’s just what it is. I enjoy what I do, especially now. I enjoy solving problems. I enjoy using my mind. It is fun for me.

However, it’s not always good and there are times where a break is required. However it shouldn’t last for long. Because if you truly love what you do, you don’t need be away from it for long.

A friend of mine took up scuba diving. He now works so he can afford to dive. Diving has become an obsession. Granted, he does live in Ft. Lauderdale, has a boat and is all of 15 minutes to the water.

That’s not the ah-ha moment he gave me. When he talked about diving he said it was monastic. A word I had never heard before so I asked him to explain. Monastic is to be monk like. Zen. Your mind is focused on the present moment and where you are right now. It’s a focus.

Scuba diving is that because if you aren’t focused on what you’re doing in the present you’re going to get hurt. To a degree I had that with running, when I was running heavily. Which I am ramping back up for in 2023.

That pure focus is a relaxing feeling because there is nothing outside of right here and now and the task at hand. There are no distractions. Nothing exists outside of what you’re doing.

Which is why finding a hobby that can give you this type of focus. This type of clear outcome. Where it’s very simple and pure is so important. I’ve found this in a way with shooting. Except I can’t do it all the time because there isn’t a range near me that I’m a member of. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to join.

Having a hobby, a way to escape that is both good for you and gives you a way to detach from everything else you have going on is important. It allows you to clear your head, let your mind let go of what you deal with on a daily basis and escape.

TV is that for most people. However it doesn’t hone anything and over time you are less creative, less engaged because you are just waiting for something else to happen instead of engaging it for yourself. You have to be the creator.

Today is one of those days where I am doing more exercise, more pieces to get away from my day to day. Allowing me to gain some clarity, some peace with what’s going on at work. I only need this every once and a while, but when I do I have a plan to help me get through. I hope you find the same for yourself.