Doomsday Intention

 Every single person I work with has a dedicated storage area, a drawer actually, for their supply of favorite snack foods.  Sarah dubbed them our Doomsday Drawers.  The idea being that in the event of doomsday, you'd ostensibly survive, for a couple days anyway, off the contents of your Doomsday Drawer.

 Today I opened my drawer to find that all the yummy carbs and candy sort of sustenance was gone, while a shiny apple and bright orange clementine rolled to the front with a thunk.  This fruity thunk made me think - about intention.  These healthy snacks are purchased, carried first home and then off to work (along with the now departed cookies, muffins and Dove dark chocolate) with the intention of consuming a healthy, fortifying snack at some point during the work day.  But the key step, the one that holds the actual benefit, is the one where I'm wiping orange juice off my chin.

 Now I acknowledge that intention is very important in itself, just not by itself.  It is the seed of charity, empathy, personal growth, and lots of other juicy things.  I've learned in yoga practice to start with an intention.  A necessary first step.  Carrying that intention with me as I step off the mat, and into the rest of my day, and actually putting it into action through my interactions with others and the world around me - that's biting into the apple. That's why I rolled out the mat in the first place.  By mindful living and intention I can occupy a more positive and useful space in this moment, this place.

 I don't actually waste time worrying about doomsday.  But there might on occasion be a soft spot in my apple.  Yoga helps with that too.