What a wonderful weekend this turned out be with yet another example of how the Mystic Law really works for me. Let me back track a bit a bit, as I haven’t been keeping up with my blog as well as I should. I have been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes for a few years now. It was well under control with oral medication and diet. But a year ago, when I quit smoking I started to gain weight which is partially to blame on my lower pulse rate from quitting but also very much because I’ve started eating like the pig that I am!
So, after about a year of perfect lab results I get a call from my doctor telling me my A1C level is out of whack.
Of course I quickly add a note to my daimoku chart where I keep a list of all the things I wish to chant for as well as keep track of how much chanting I do. I’ve been really neglegent in actually logging my daimoku but I do often look at it prior to my sessions and it does act as an excellent reminder.
So as I chant for the ambition to get out more, exercise and eat properly I find out about the exhibit coexistence that will be in Hartford, Connecticut. What better way to get out into the fresh air, do a little walking and reflect upon cultural diversity, tolerance and world peace? So today I venture out to the city (now you real city folks, stop laughing.. I know Hartford is far from a big city!)… And I find the exhibit.. everywhere… and I mean everywhere. It sprawled around a very large block with a lot of nothing in between pieces. I drove around several times, trying to find a spot that I was comfortable leaving my car at but was unsuccessful. I quickly realized that this was the type of exhibit that would most be enjoyed by those who are actually a part of the city.. eating.. working and playing on a daily basis. Perhaps if I didn’t go alone I would have been more bold but not today.
As you can probably read into that last paragraph I can be easily intimidated by the unknown and walking into unfamiliar environments. During today’s morning gongyo I did take advantage of daimoku to build up the gumption to go and I was really close to simply forgetting the whole idea. But I knew that I needed to just dive into this little challenge and see where it takes me. So… ready to leave the city I key into my GPS for directions to one of my favorite little diners that I haven’t been to in a long time, Mickey’s Oceanic Grill. As luck would have it, they weren’t open. So…..
It’s still early enough where I don’t really need to eat lunch yet, and still in need of some exercise I wander around the corner to the Great River Park where I very pleasantly suprised! It’s been years since I’ve been here and really didn’t expect much more then a little public boat launch area. I ended up walking for about 2-hours up and down the Connecticut river shooting pictures and just enjoying the mild pre-summer day!
So, a quick summary…
1) I overcame my mild fear of venturing alone into the city.
2) I saved myself the calories of a roadside diner meal since they were closed and was redirected to a park where…
3) I ended up walking much farther then I had originally intended and
4) re-inspired myself creatively by giving me a new photographic subject which…
5) I will return to continuing to satisfy my creative need and refueling my motivation to exercise in a fresh new environment to explore.
and… hidden benefit
6) There is a pedestrian bridge that links East Hartford and Hartford. As I increase my walk I’ll also be venturing into the city a bit without the worry of where to park my car.
Perhaps even more experiences lay ahead!
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