One Year Old

Well, today dharma_path.blogspot.com turns one year old!! I've been bloggin' for a year now. Wow, that went fast! Musta been having fun! ;-)

Good time to revisit why I created this blog in the first place.

At first I wanted my blog to be just about my efforts, struggles, accomplishments to live the life of my newly chosen Zen practice. In the past year I've opened it up a bit to include more of just what is my life. After all, ALL of my life is in fact the Dharma as I'm personally manifesting it right here, right now. So, here I am a full year later. To be honest, I don't feel as though my Zen practice has taken root yet. There have been long stretches where I've been totally away from daily sittings. As I wrote about yesterday, it's been very challenging for me to try and find a balance between all the other things going on in my life (saving a rocky marriage, raising a 4 year old, helping my wife through nursing school, keeping my head above water in a busy and challenging position at work, etc) and a daily sitting practice. More often than I'd like, time to sit has been sacrificed for time spent with my wife before we drift off to an always needed good night's sleep. Maybe this has been the year to recognize that moment to moment in our daily lives, shit just happens and there's absolutely no use fretting over it. I think I've glimpsed just a fraction of that lesson, but I am glad for what I HAVE learned of it. It will help me moving forward I'm sure!!

Also during the year I've realized that my blog has been driving my ego in a way. Frequently I find myself writing not for me but for those who would read my posts and comment on them. It's interesting how I can get caught up with thoughts like "Hey man!! How come nobody commented on that way cool post???" When I first started this weblog project, I wanted to just chronicle for myself my journey in practice. Interesting how things get morphed by the ego isn't it?

Here's to many more years as a member of the blogging community! Thanks to all who have contributed to my blog via the comments and personal emails. I welcome you input!