3 Days Until I'm Officially 6 Years Sober from Drugs & Alcohol by Alexander Smith | Mindfulness Teacher

4 Days Until I'm Officially 6 Years Sober from Drugs & Alcohol by Alexander Smith | Mindfulness Teacher

5 Days Until I'm Officially 6 Years Sober from Drugs & Alcohol by Alexander Smith | Mindfulness Teacher

September is National Recovery Month, and I want to share what's working for me, one-day-at-a-time, over the next week, leading up to my 6 year milestone of continuous sobriety from drugs and alcohol on Friday, September 24, 2021.

Enjoy these two quotes, in written form, as they are featured in this pop-up recovery podcast extravaganza!

“You’ve got to believe in the poetry, because everything else in your life will fail you, including yourself.

“A real fucking revolution is—at its core—spiritual. It is a complete decimation of one’s priorities, beliefs, and way of living. A reconstruction in the spirit of...

“... you have to create a new god or gods.

“It is imperative that you believe in something greater than yourself.”

—Ali to Rue

HBO’s Euphoria

‘Trouble Don't Last Always: Part 1: Rue’

“Addiction is finding a quick and dirty solution, to the symptom of a problem, which then prevents or distracts one, from the harder and longer term task, of solving the problem.”

—Donella Meadows

viralmindfulness.com/free

After building a foundation of calm attention to the breath in this meditation, we will expand awareness to include a range of other arising and passing phenomena.

You may notice sounds arising.

Smells or tastes.

Physical sensations of the body.

Sight and visions (even behind closed eyes).

Rather than engaging with the content of these sensations, try paying attention to the process of their arising and then of their passing.

Notice that the sensations appear, disappear, or change over time.

Notice how the flow of experience is constantly changing. How nothing stays quite the same.

Be aware that sensations, thoughts and emotions are all part of the flow of experience. They come and go, they are temporary, and impermanent.

For free access to more meditations, including my exclusive 5-minute creek meditations (the water sounds of running creeks), get instant access now: viralmindfulness.com/free.

Conversation on Stanley Kunitz's poem, The Layers.

"How shall the heart be reconciled to its feast of losses?"

I've been swimming in the deep end of grief and mourning after one of my dearest friends died in May.

Poetry make sense, and teaches me at a primal level.

Here's what has been helping me make meaning of my grief, and reconcile to the losses all around us during year two of the pandemic.

Yours Bluely,

Alexander

LAST CHANCE to get FREE ACCESS to my Guided Meditation Playlist.

→ https://viralmindfulnessacademy.com/

Returning students LOGIN & Make Sit Happen with the new Equanimity Meditation, or a new 5-Minute Creek Meditation → https://viralmindfulness.com/login

Equanimity Guided Meditation

In Buddhism, equanimity (Pali: upekkhā; Sanskrit: upekṣā) is one of the four sublime attitudes and is considered: Neither a thought nor an emotion, it is rather the steady conscious realization of reality's transience. It is the ground for wisdom and freedom and the protector of compassion and love.

In the dictionary, equanimity, as a noun: mental or emotional stability or composure, especially under tension or strain; calmness; equilibrium.

With synonyms, equanimity:

aplomb

calmness

composure

coolness

serenity

tranquillity

assurance

ataraxia

calm

confidence

cool

detachment

imperturbability

patience

peace

phlegm

placidity

poise

self-possession

steadiness

ataraxy

equability

presence of mind

sangfroid

We'll work with the following three phrases in this meditation.

1. Suffering is determined by our relationship to experience.

We let go of the illusion that happiness or sadness are inherent parts of any experience.

2. All beings are responsible for their own actions

We accept the results of our karma, and hold others accountable for theirs.

3. The happiness of others is outside my control

We release ourselves from the burden of responsibility for things we cannot change.

For free access to more meditations, including my exclusive 5-minute creek meditations (the water sounds of running creeks), get instant access now: viralmindfulness.com/free.

Give, said the little stream,

Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.

Give said the little stream,

As it hurried down the hill;

I’m small, I know, but wherever I go

The grass grows greener still.

Singing, singing all the day,

Give away, oh! give away.

Singing, singing all the day,

Give, oh! give away.

Give, said the little rain,

Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.

Give, said the little rain,

As it fell upon the flow’rs;

I’ll raise their drooping heads again,

*As it fell upon the flow’rs.

Singing, singing all the day,

Give away, oh! give away.

Singing, singing all the day,

Give, oh! give away.

*Alternate ending to verse 2: As they bloom and come to life.

Alternate spelling: blue-m 💙

Welcome to LULLABY BLUE!

A brand new segment of my podcast, where I teach you to sing lullabies to your children and infants.

Sing and lull yourself into more peace and calm when feeling overly stressed or disconnected.

Feel free to lullaby yourself if you need some TLC.

In this episode we are exploring 'Give Said The Little Stream.'

Music: William B. Bradbury

Lyrics: Fanny J. Crosby

For quick access to sing, using the accompaniment, look for the episode entitled, LULLABY (Music Only): Give Said The Little Stream.

Sing! Sing! Sing!

I'm in an 8 week online writing retreat with Natalie Goldberg and it's awesome.⁣

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I'd love to share what I'm learning with you.⁣

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Have you read WRITING DOWN THE BONES by Natalie Goldberg?

She inspired the connection between my writing practice and sitting meditation.⁣

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What make a writer?

They write, and write, and write, and read literature, and listen to others read their words.⁣

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Be the verb, not the pronoun! Writer's write.⁣

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Today's episode will inspire your writing practice.⁣

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Natalie’s book, ‘Writing Down the Bones,’ was gifted to me in my late twenties. My Aunt wrote a few words in the cover: “Find your passion: enter the flow.”⁣

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Years later, with a different virus as my intimate teacher (HIV-positive since March 17, 2003)— I know my passion and consistently put myself in the flow one-day-at-a-time.⁣

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I obsess less over what I’m creating these days, with words, paints, notes, and podcast episodes; and focus on the space that opens within me through the process of creating.⁣

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Natalie’s words and essence have inspired my path for decades.⁣

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I’ve read all but two of her 15 books. She connects writing practice to sitting meditation in a brilliant manner.⁣

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I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to sit and write, and learn and listen, and observe the nature and quality of MIND with my beloved Natalie.