'What stops us from prioritising important things is prioritising unimportant things.' Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering
This quote from a sit with the revered monk has resurfaced upon my return to Australia. Melbourne has endless pockets to pick from. A breadth of choice. It's a privilege to fill my week with things I like to do.
Yet, I overcommit myself.
Squeezing in too much at once.
Progress in one pursuit competes with the novel, fresh experiences of another.
I'm scribbling this monthly piece together in the spontaneous rush of capturing my first race event. Because when am I ever going to coincidentally be on the Sunshine Coast again during the Noosa Triathlon?
Exhale.
This month's 444 piece centres on what I've been needing to practice: cultivation. The ripple effects of creating something into existence.
4 me - forced rest
My first week home reminded me of the pace at which a city calendar fills up.
Old habits crept in. The validation of being busy. Wearing it like a badge of honour. As though a full calendar always translates to a happy life.
It challenged my third 'rest sadhana' of the year. A 40-day yoga intention to rest. Pushing edges. Feeling fatigued. Questioning rest's worth.
I noticed my relationship with space changing. It was distancing itself from me alongside creativity and other by-products.
In glimpses, space found me. Caught off-guard, I didn't know what to do with it. In moments of waiting, I'd catch myself grabbing my phone to fill time or already being deep in a doomscroll.
An idea sprang up when listening to The Bridge Podcast.
What if I blocked a weekend a month to rest?
Somewhere far in nature.
Camping.
Prioritising sitting with myself.
No distractions.
No exceptions.
I missed feeling snug under the canopy of bush greens. Dappled light dancing across the tracks in gum tree patterns. Bird song filling the crisp air. Sinking my feet into the grass. Making mental notes of landmarks to find my way back to camp because maps are offline. Sleeping close to the ground. All the time spent walking and setting up camp or preparing food. The environment shifting how I see thoughts.
4 us - co-regulation
There's value in going alone.
There's value in going together.
Hikes overseas ignited my confidence in solo camping. I longed for days in nature, but waited until others wanted to go too. A lack of exposure raised doubt. Pushing through the vulnerability was empowering.
As a young male, I have privileges in accessing this. What should be safe and available to everyone is not.
I'm exploring ways to share camp offerings with others. Chances to feel the impacts of being out there. Intertwining the experience with nature's restful qualities. The opportunity to co-regulate. The option to simply have a homebase to peel off and return to time alone in nature.
4 you - when was the last time you felt connected?
What did it feel like?
What was happening in my life?
Who was I around?
Was it a simpler time, or was there more going on?
A series of questions from The Bridge Podcast episode. My responses flooded back memories of camps. The connection to the land and those surrounding me.
Your responses may vary far from camping. Give it a go, see how it feels.
Have a great month,
Max
