The To-Do List

­As spring deepens towards summer, Tiger the cat spends all of his time outdoors. What a lucky guy! I, on the other hand, have so much to do. Do you have this experience too? My to-do list is written on a white board that hangs where I can see it while eating breakfast in the morning. (lol is this a good idea?)

 We can think of life like a big art project that doesn't have an ending in sight. I mean, I will most likely die at some point (you too), but I can't imagine that my to-do list will be finished even at that moment. Who then will get the satisfaction that comes with crossing something off of the list?

 It helps me to spend time at the local botanical garden. Every Friday I visit to lead a meditation class in a field next to the ocean. On the way to the class, I walk through the veggie and flower garden. Even with 4 full-time professional gardeners and an army of volunteers, the whole place is in process. It is always different and, without exception, beautiful. And I can see that there is invariably something more that needs to be done.

 The tyranny of the to-do list can lead down a path of stress and suffering, especially when forgetting that everything is in process. Some parts of life may be blooming, but other areas need some attention. You are in the middle of things; I am too. Our lives are unfolding and beautiful, even if unfinished and not quite perfect.

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