Paramitas continued

Today's paramita is patience. Ah, yes, patience. The purpose of patience is that it overcomes anger for anger and agression is nothing but speed. Anger takes us over and makes everything solid. This morning I sat in meditation really wanting to do a special practice for those in peril in Haiti but my mind was frozen with anger over something to do with my step-son. My patience had run out as they say and when it does - or when I believe it does it leaves me nothing but this big frozen head. Hard to work with. If I'm angry when I'm writing well, I can't that's all. I can't write if I let anger freeze my head. Developing patience is the antidote - breath, give the situation more space - don't confine anger because it is like all of us confined or tamped down - really gets going then. No, give it space, do lots of breathing and counting to ten and remembering that this particular situation won't matter in ten years or even probably in ten days. And be patient with your patience! Be patient with your self as you try and slow everything down. Try and watch your mind as you get angry and see what it is like - notice the loudness and the speed. For those of us who write mysteries and heck for anyone who writes about emotion and people who have them - you have a treasure box to explore - your own mind. When we step beside ourselves even for a moment we can get some wriggle room for our anger to dissipate. Breathe and slow down and observe. Now I must get out the door and go to work! But not too fast.