Review on my 54th Birthday

Birthday Review. 

 Phil Zimbardo says you should ask yourself "who am I?" 20x

1. teacher
2. husband
3. son
4. brother
5. liberal
6. suburbanite
7. guitar player
8. american
9. atheist
10. runner
11. reader
12. biker
13. meditator
14. cook
15. baker
16. explorer
17. advocate
18. photographer
19. blogger
20. writer: songs? poems?

(note: Here is a More/Less list I created in Jan 2022)

Chat GPT helped me create these annual review questions, inspired by my teachers of this past year.

1. Mindfulness and Presence (Jon Kabat-Zinn)

   • How have I incorporated mindfulness into my daily life over the past year?  
   • I tried this year to continue my daily meditations with the Insight Timer's actual timer, set for 10 minutes.  By July, I had returned to the idea of having an "assigned" meditation per day of the week.  In the past, I did TEACHERS on different days of the week - Tara Brach, Joseph Goldstein, etc.  This time, I sketched out different TYPES of meditation for different days of the week - Loving kindness, body scan, IFS. I kept Sundays for watching JKZ
   • I continue to try to "Note 10 things" each day.  Often, after a run, I'll sit on a bench and wait until my attention is taken by 10 new things.  I'll write them down in the Apple Notes app.  
   • Ideas for things I can do more of in terms of mindfulness: mindful listening to music, to Jennie (focusing on my posture, or maybe on specific questions), reach out more regularly with friends/check in, be more mindful in terms of eating -- adding vegetables and fruit, having vegetables and fruit at hand at all times, ending soda and beer -- which I have reduced a lot, but not completely.
   • When did I feel most present and aware? What can I learn from those moments?
   • What are my biggest distractions, and how can I reduce their impact on my mindfulness?

2. Compassion and Interbeing (Thich Nhat Hanh)

   • How have I practiced compassion towards myself and others this year?
   • I am trying to reflect on a different core idea each month.  July's focus is "compassion."  In July I even have a "column" for it in my daily journal.  So, I'm trying to make this a part of my daily reflection, daily life.
   • In what ways have I cultivated a sense of interbeing with the world around me?
   • One thing I remember about interbeing is TNH saying: you should be able to see the clouds in the bread that you eat.  
   • This year I came across the teacher Gregg Krech.  His Naikan practice is related to interbeing.  Basically, instead of saying what you're grateful for, you think about "what have you received" -- and that can be from animate or inanimate things.  All of these things can lead to a great appreciation for interbeing.  
   • Ideas for improvement: I can add to my weekly (monthly?) calendar a time to do a formal Naikan practice.  I can add to my daily list of things I'm grateful for (a person, a thing, something about myself), one more specific Naikan-like question:  what have I received?
   • How can I deepen my practice of loving-kindness and understanding?
   • I have re-committed (since the beginning of July) to doing LKM on Wednesday mornings.  My main teacher in this is Sharon Salzburg.

3. Inner Peace and Ethical Living (Thubten Chodron)

   • What steps have I taken to cultivate inner peace and mental clarity?
   • JKZ talks about "putting out the welcome mat" for all things that are going on in your body/mind.  Chodron talks about how we veer from confronting things in our life.  She would say, feel the thing, sit with the discomfort for a moment, rather than immediately fleeing/hiding.  IFS seems to me to be a process/ exercise to get access to the "true you" underneath all the protectors and managers.  Recently, I have been listening to Ally (?) Boothroyd on Insight Timer who walks through a practice that is for deep alert rest -- a Ctrl-Alt-Delete.  Right now, the Chodron and Boothroyd seem to be key.  
   • Ideas for improvement: I've just begun the Boothroyd.  How can I put the Chodron into action?  
   • How have my actions aligned with my ethical values and principles?
   • What habits or behaviors can I change to better support my spiritual growth?

4. Future Thinking and Innovation (Kevin Kelly)

   • How have I embraced new technologies or ideas to enhance my life and well-being?
   • What steps have I taken to adapt to the changing world around me?
   • How can I better prepare myself for the future while staying grounded in the present?

5. Embracing Uncertainty and Impermanence (Pema Chodron)

   • How have I embraced uncertainty and change in my life this past year?
   • When faced with difficulties, how did I practice staying present and open?
   • What moments of discomfort have I learned from, and how have they shaped me?

6. Cultivating Resilience and Compassion (Pema Chodron)

   • How have I practiced compassion for myself during challenging times?
   • In what ways have I built resilience in the face of life's ups and downs?
   • How can I develop a deeper sense of patience and kindness towards myself and others?

7. Letting Go and Moving Forward (Pema Chodron)

   • What attachments or expectations have I let go of this year?
   • How can I continue to practice letting go of what no longer serves me?
   • What new opportunities or perspectives have arisen from letting go?

8. Personal Growth and Reflection

   • What were my biggest challenges this year, and how did I overcome them?
   • What achievements or milestones am I most proud of from the past year?
   • How have my relationships evolved, and what have I learned from them?

9. Health and Well-being

   • How have I taken care of my physical health and well-being?
   • What changes can I make to improve my diet, exercise, and overall lifestyle?
   • How do I balance work, rest, and play to ensure a healthy life?

10. Contribution and Legacy

    • How have I contributed to my community or society in meaningful ways?
    • What legacy do I want to leave, and how can I work towards that vision?
    • How can I inspire and support others in their own journeys?

11. Gratitude and Appreciation

    • What am I most grateful for over the past year?
    • Who has had a positive impact on my life, and how can I express my appreciation?
    • How can I cultivate a daily practice of gratitude moving forward?
    • I'm already doing this!  

12. Something about creativity, creating, doing something new. (ask ChatGPT to think about Alastair Humphries?)

    • What a

These questions should help you reflect deeply on various aspects of your life, inspired by the wisdom of the individuals who have influenced you.