To say that I am occasionally ‘unconscious’ is an admission of embarrassment. Suffice it to say that, without exploring the above feeling, I allow myself to soar while walking the dog. I do need to be in my body but love the free-form floating that releases me to a timeless void.

The last few weeks have not afforded me the luxury of drifting. Rather, I became increasingly incensed, moving toward a state of high dudgeon, about one church property in the neighborhood where the dog and I walk. Irritation mounted as I looked at the garbage, stepped around vomit, swivel-hipped by shopping carts and backpacks. The landscape was littered around a church that allowed the homeless to make a home on their grounds.

I didn’t permit the inhabitants’ little kindnesses to make a dent in my armor. No, I was too busy building my ‘cleanliness’ case. The dog didn’t mind; she liked the attention from some of the men and women, although she was a bit high-minded about letting the exuberant little Chihuahua say hello. Truly, the issue was mine.

There came a day when my animosity sat at the Orange Alert Level and I was debating among possible actions. Perhaps I could change my walk pattern and routes. And, I could always write a letter to the church. Or, I could police the area myself, most likely grumbling the entire time. While I was mulling and steaming, I received a Harry Potter howler. Yep! I did.

The message was very, very clear….my home was in the same state of chaos as this homeless encampment! At my place, what would one find? … Clean dishes stacked on the counter in lieu of being in the cupboards, papers strewn all over my office, cat fur decorating the living room carpet, and kitty litter all over the bathrooms. In that moment, I did the Cheshire Cat thing, i.e., I smiled and disappeared.

That evening I tackled the kitchen, putting clean dishes away, refilling the dishwasher, and scrubbing the counters. While I worked, I reflected on the mirroring of my interior at the level of the exterior. In my home life, there was chaos and disorder. I finally recognized it when I saw it repeatedly in the world about me.

Anyway, I’ll have you know that I was going to take a photo of that encampment as well as one of my home. Got the one of my office area pre-cleanup. When we ambled by the encampment, got no picture. Why? Well, it was neat and orderly!

Changing a belief and taking action works every time!!