Should I do the dishes or write a poem?

[Lizzie]

Oh dear! Your poem reminds me of Zen - chop wood, carry water ... I'll let T D Craig say it better;

'The essence of living a spiritual life is contained in the Zen quote “when hungry eat, when tired sleep.”  Now before your mind reacts and you say to yourself….’Gee thanks for that incredibly obvious piece of wisdom.’  Look at this quote more closely,  along with the initial passage above ‘before enlightenment chop wood, carry water…after enlightenment chop wood, carry water.’ Break life down into the simplicity of the present moment.  As human beings we do not live in the present moment.  We carry our past forward with us, we yearn for something in the future and all the time we miss what is in front of us at all times.  Life is beautiful right in front of us at every moment.  Focusing on this moment right now removes the mind from drifting to wants, needs, desires….all driven by the mind in search of attachment.  With attachment comes suffering.

Yeah, if there's one thing I'm not in life, it's Zen I can see the wisdom here, though.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this poem. I really enjoyed the comparison between your poetry and it stinking and your dishes being dirty. However I have to assure you that are dead wrong in this! Your poem has style and I think you are gifted.

Thank you! Sometimes, I have to write about what's in front of me in that moment. Occasionally, it works.

Thanks for the encouragement ><

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You did both.

(When I was so depressed I didn't have the volition to put socks on, I could still wash dishes.
This odd miracle saved me from suicide -- dishes can be held on to.)

When I get depressed, housework is the first thing to go by the wayside. I'll think of you now when I do my dishes -- you're right that they are at least tangible. Glad they got you through. ><