I’m home. Stop. The yard looks nice. Stop. But the weeds took over. Stop. The dog is shedding. Stop. The hair is everywhere. Stop. The mail is high. Stop. All bills I bet. Stop. The fridge is empty. Stop. The floor is muddy. Stop. What to do first? Stop. Unpack my bag? Stop. Maybe the laundry? Stop. Clean up the kitchen? Stop. Collect the trash? Stop. Write on the blog? Stop.
Too much to think about! Stop. My head is pounding. Stop. Hear the racket? Stop.
Just stop.
And then go.
And don’t stop.
From where I sit, it's stop & go, nonstop.
Comment by Lorianne — August 3, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
Welcome back.
Comment by Kristin H. — August 3, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
welcome home–we’ve missed you.
and stop it. just relax. breathe in your family and let yourself gently acclimate back to the reality that is yours.
stop.
Comment by Holly — August 3, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
Wow. I’m going to try this. It’s hard…. well, you know, the part where you stop doing it all and just go.
I’m getting wrapped up a little too much lately. Stop.
Just go. 🙂
Comment by Rowena — August 3, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow…yesterday”s gone. Yesterday’s gone! oooooo….
Comment by mapelba — August 3, 2008 @ 9:51 pm
I’m just back from a whirlwind 24 hours in the Adirondacks. Stop. And another whirlwind returning home. Stop. Grocery shopped with the girls. Stop. That one alone could be broken down into several chapters. Stop. Going to take a catnap. Go.
Comment by Jena Strong — August 3, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
I love this post. It feels like coming home.
Comment by Mika — August 4, 2008 @ 12:40 am
Welcome Home.
Comment by Shelli — August 4, 2008 @ 2:18 am
This is a perfect description of coming back from retreat. It’s amazing how much multi-tasking we actually do without realizing the slick fluidity of our ordinary ‘get things done’ activity. When on retreat, these activities calm and settle. The surface buzzing silences, or at least calms (sometimes). When you get back from retreat it’s just amazing how much we do each day. We come back renewed, fresh and novice to the whole thing. Thanks for the post.
Comment by Anonymous — August 4, 2008 @ 5:03 am
Oh this is so true! One of my first “to do’s” is to put the laundry in the machine.There’s always the laundry.In every great event in history, someone is doing the laundry for it!
Comment by Pam — August 4, 2008 @ 8:00 am
Oh, I’m there too. I hurt my back and cannot *do* anything and I just want to close my eyes and lie down…rather than attempt to pick up things off the floor using a broom handle since I cannot bend over! 😉 Need.To.Let.It.Go.
Comment by denise — August 5, 2008 @ 1:07 am
It is overwhelming sometimes how much we are relied on to keep all the piles of life in check. And nice.
Comment by Shannon — August 5, 2008 @ 1:44 am
I wish I could find that stop go switch…
Comment by nyjlm — August 6, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
yes, please let me know where the inner chatter stops, i’ve been searching for that place. stop.
smiles to you. stop.
Comment by Bridge — August 9, 2008 @ 3:57 am
Welcome back!
Another vote to start with laundry. Maybe a load just of sesshin clothes to start out.
The end of sesshin is the beginning of intensive practice.
Comment by Chris — December 11, 2011 @ 5:23 pm
Always a good reminder. I need to remember this after work each day. Book bags need emptied. Stop. Lunch boxes need cleaned out. Stop. Dinner needs made. Stop. Get the mail. Stop. Homework. Stop. Clean up. Stop. Stop … and then just go. : )
Comment by Shawn — December 12, 2011 @ 6:13 am