Sincere Meditations
February 7th, 2008
The early morning is my favorite time of day. I have come to the conclusion that it is not socially acceptable to be a morning person. People give you a distorted look when you tell them you don’t want to stay out late.
Why are you going home so early?
I like to get up early, so I typically go to bed early.
(tilts head, distorts face)
Ah.
The front porch of our house is my favorite place in Seattle. I like to get up at dawn, make some coffee, which has of late been Dunkin’ Donuts French Vanilla, and sit on the porch with a few books. Before I go out I typically stand at my bookshelf with anticipation of the glories that shall be revealed from this day’s book. I like to read books in small chunks, typically one chapter per sitting. It makes for slow reading, but it works for me.
Today I grabbed Anne Lamott’s Plan B and read from the chapter entitled Sincere Meditations, where Anne describes a talk she heard from her friend David. Here is my favorite part:
“In the Church of 80% Sincerity, you definitely don’t have to look good, but you are supposed to meditate. According to David’s instructions, you sit quietly with your eyes closed and you follow your breath in and out of your body, gently watching your mind. Your mantra should go like this: ‘Why am I doing this? This is such a waste! I have so much to do! My butt itches…’ And if you stick to it, he promised, from time to time calm and peace of mind will intrude. After some practice with this basic meditation, you will be able to graduate to panic meditations, and then sex fantasy meditations. And meditations on what to do when you win the lotto.”
mornings forever! tell your late-nite friends to adjust their schedules just a bit later & then you can all enjoy the dawn… they w/their sleepy-eyed gawkings & you w/your dunkin donuts coffee.
great post.
i agree, mornings are great.
i recently have been adjusting my schedule to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier.
i find the mornings to be more productive for me, also when you’re the only one awake, it’s really tranquil.
Its nice to know its not just me thats a morning person!
Love the quote. Do you just pick a random chapter or do you read through the book in order, but just pick a random book or whatever?
I just discovered the glory of going to bed early- I not only learn to love the mornings, but I hate myself a lot less when I have to wake up.
Kudos to you for admitting you like flavored coffee as well- there’s enough crap for that in Michigan coffee shops, let alone Seattle ;)
As far as meditations that don’t just graduate to sex and the lotto, I’ve been hearing a little on the topic from more liturgical views. My mind will naturally gravitate towards things of this world, so meditating on a thought or phrase from scripture helps, and can even remind me of things I would otherwise ignore in everyday life.
Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.
i hate mornings.
=]
Sounds like a cozy little porch. I love mornings but I don’t have a porch :(.
6:45 am…leave house…6:47 am…look at the most beautiful purple mountains…the moon, still out. I think purple is my favorite color.
I love mornings, too.
Dunkin’ Donuts?
Mmmmmm, mornings.
*Favorite time to do my devos.
*Early morning exercise is glorious.
*Lots of energy…I drive people in my classes nuts because they are still basically asleep (singing during a morning painting class is a phenomenal experience I tend to repeat).
*Early morning provides the sexiest lighting for photography.
The scale weighing early morning and late evening tips heavily to the morning side.
Mmmmmm, mornings.
*Early morning provides the sexiest lighting for photography.
Well played.
oh, anne lammot. one of my favorites.
i would enjoy mornings more so if i didn’t enjoy late nights so much.
the lighting sure is nice, though.
i get mad at myself for missing it so often.
I’m discovering mornings right now. I’m still up way too late, but I’ve found that in the last week…getting up and sitting at a Starbucks for an hour with some Phil Wickham in my ears, and the Word in my hands gives me so much more energy.
I wish I had a sweet porch though.
OH…and Dunkin is where it is AT! I would gladly exchange my S.bucks coffee for a LARGE Coffe Cream & Sugar.
starbucks rule the world.
i admit, i am not a morning person. that’s okay too! heh.
I am with you bro!
Early to bed, early to rise.
I wouldn’t trade my time in the morning for anything.
I just came across your blog-n-stuff, you are very talented!
Your stuff is raw!
Keep it up.
I’m not a morning person by choice, but since I have to be up early I do tend to enjoy it.
Mate, I envy you immensly. If you have any tips on how to switch from being entirely a night owl to a dawnaphillic bloke, let me know!
Yay for mornings. I never knew what a morning person I was until I started college…now the only people who are up earlier than me are the workout fanatics or the ROTC kids. Apparently I’m abnormal for a college freshman, but I’m okay with that. At least I get things done.
I love the early mornings but am a night owl. My dual nature duels at times. My coffee choice is Newman’s Own Organic “Nell’s Breakfast Blend”
am i allowed to like whichever one allows me more time for quiet contemplation?
i love plan B. it is one of my absolute favorites. and she is one of my absolute favorites.
how are you?
we got a dog. she is the coolest dog ever.
oh and also- i agree with Alasdair up top…i am an extreme night owl and would love tips on how to change that!! (if there is such a tip other than going to bed earlier…!)