Community and Healing

I have been struggling with motivation to sustain my path lately.  It is the thing that always turns me away.  Too busy to cook proper meals, too tired to exercise, too tired to do proper shopping so instead buy quick sandwiches full of gluten- or a slice of Pizza with the double-whammy of gluten and dairy.  So no wonder I feel tired and overwhelmed, forgetful, scattered.  That is the outcome of eating the foods that I am sensitive to.  Not to mention a return of the dreaded eczema.

So, how do people maintain focus and commitment to a program of this nature?  I obviously don't have the answer, but I have a feeling that community has something to do with it...along with a strong will.  And maybe community is important to me because I am a woman and a collectivist by nature.  In my interview with my brother, he talked about his motivation to stay focused came from wanting to avoid the same kind of suffering that our parents, aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings have experienced with diabetes.  That is pretty strong motivation.  That seemed to be enough for him...that and the fact that getting well is inherently motivating...feeling good makes you want to keep going.

Yesterday, I had a really fulfilling day in community.  I was engaging my music therapy community in an exploration of themes related to forming a master of music therapy degree program.  I found that experience incredibly motivating.  Buoyed up by the enthusiasm of my colleagues, I felt my own enthusiasm and energy rising and focusing as I began to visualize an outcome.  I then went out to lunch with friends who are also committed to a healing path in terms of whole foods and supplements.  Again, it felt very supportive to me to share thoughts and ideas concerning theories, products, foods etc.  and I came away from that experience with renewed energy for my journey.

Isolation is a real barrier to success on any path, but especially when one is trying to change long-standing habits while embracing new behaviors, thoughts and self-affirmations.  Buddhism recognizes the fine balance between being on an individual path and also the benefit of being in a group of like minded people.  When we say our refuge prayer, we meditate on the meaning of the word 'refuge' and we take 'refuge' in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.  The Sangha is the community of like-minded individuals.  Within community, I think that we can take refuge in the reality that there are others going through the same things we are, we can relax into that and give and receive support.

Meanwhile, there is devastating impact as Japan struggles to survive a cataclysmic earthquake, resultant Tsunami and massive damage.  I am moved to take up my role as healer and remain in compassionate meditation- but also to act through offering support to the aid agencies who are even now rushing to Japan to assist.  We are indeed one organism on this planet.

In love and compassion
Terra