Day 2

Let me preface this by saying again that I have read all three books by Eckhart Tolle and countless others this summer but now I am taking each book a chapter at a time and relating it to my journey.

Page 42
"When you detect egoic behavior in yourself, smile. At times you may even laugh. How could humanity have been taken in by this for so long? Above all, know that the ego isn't personal. It isn't who you are. If you consider the ego to be your personal problem, that's just more ego".

People who know me at my job are so curious why I am smiling all the time at work. Everyone wants to know who my new girlfriend is.....and I laugh. I smile when I notice my ego trying to work. I smile when my co-workers are so involved in ego. I smile when my guests through their ego around.....I am a smiling fool. They must think I am on drugs or something. This is why I love Mr. Tolle's observation "how could humanity been taken by this". When you are the watcher and the listener it is so bloody obvious and people think I am bonkers because I am just smiling. I love it...HA.

Page 49
"For many people their sense of self-worth is intimately bound up with their physical strength, good looks, fitness and external appearance. Many feel a diminished sense of self-worth because they percieve their body as ugly or imperfect"

This statement hit home way too hard. This was one of Oprah's AHA moments. I am one of the boy's at the gym who lifts heavy weights, has a large physique and is sort of into his looks. I hit the gym every day, ride my bike all over Nantucket and am always tan so this will something I need to work on.....I forgot who said "power is weakness poising as strength". I guess my ego wants everyone to think I am strong because inside I am weak and scared. But I am watching.

Page 53
"When you are in touch with the inner body, you are not identified with your mind. This is to say, you are no longer identified with form but moving away from form identification toward formlessness, which we may also call Being. It is your essence identity"

Today I did spent alot time finding gaps in thought. This is something I have been working on because the more space in gaps in thoughts the longer gap in intervals become. This morning I went to Sankaty Head and watched the seals hunting for prey I had my eyes open and tried to become still and just be present and totally conscious. I really enjoyed my day watching them and the tourists reactions to the seals. I then went mountain biking to an of-road single track to Squam Farm. I came across a meadow with flowers and cat willows. I just sat and watched and be still. I then decided to close my eyes and breath and feel my presence and how connected I was with nature. When I opened my eyes nature seemed more vivid, more colorful, more brighter and more inviting. I am either starting to get a hang of this "stillness and presence or I inhaled way to much oxygen and was high as a kite. Then when I went to work I spent the whole night smiling like a dope on Quaaludes or something either way I like the inner feel of me now.

Have a great day,

Jeremy