The Moonlighting Student

Hard work with a little less attachment

January 3rd, 2008 9:24 pm —  157 views

rabbit1.jpg

Classes start tomorrow. I’m looking forward to this semester but need to remind myself to be calm and relaxed. Don’t lose your shit and scare the children.

Sometimes I wonder if that’s the problem. Sometimes I come across too dedicated, passionate, and focused on something that I get a little freaky-zealous about it and people start to slowly back away. I see it sometimes and pretend I don’t recognize it. But I do. No point denying it.

At times like this, when I’m reflecting on my state of mind it helps to think about the balance between hard work and attachment. Attachment is only good when it refers to your feeding tube or IV. Too much attachment to a particular belief or idea is not healthy. What is too much? Perhaps any amount is too much provided you distinguish dedication from attachment. Dedicated but not attached. Dedicated to working hard and seeing things as they are.

What I’ve been seeing is frustration at my own inability to be more flexible and patient. Last semester was slightly better in this respect but I’ve got a lot of work to do yet.

This year I renew my efforts to react less and act more. Why get worked up over nothing? And what isn’t nothing besides what is happening right now?

Note to self: pay attention and act appropriately.

Image: Noticing tracks in the snow across my front yard I followed them right to this rabbit. It was hunkered down against the wind shivering in the single digit temperatures. It was cold, cold, cold, this morning.

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2 Comments 

Comments

2 Responses to “Hard work with a little less attachment”

  1. Dawn on January 5th, 2008 9:52 am

    So…how did the first day of class go?

  2. Spike on January 5th, 2008 10:20 am

    How funny that you posted that comment while I was writing the next post. First day was good. I see a lot of work ahead but I’m not terribly concerned because I have some experience doing what is expected (from 501 and 682).

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