Sunday, 3 July 2011

City Living


Cars whiz by, buildings outnumber trees, and concrete replaces grass.  People barely acknowledge you as you walk by and giving a friendly greeting is usually ignored.  The more I live in the city here in Ireland I find myself become more irritable and more easy to be caught up in drama.  Trivial things become necessary to keep my attention and it takes a conscious effort to remember that its all about having fun.

At home I surround myself with people who are caring and thoughtful.  I can walk outside and immediately be in the grass, and trees tower over the streets.  I am easily at peace, centered in my own mind and spirit.  It becomes more and more clear to me that we are affected by our surroundings.  The fast pace life of city living, where the exchange of currency takes precedence over almost everything reinforces a nature within us that is obsessed with possessions and puts more value on things than relationships.  Buying clothing becomes our new meditation. 

When I leave the city and visit small towns like Dingle or Cobh where the blue skies with white puffy clouds create a backdrop for mountains full of green grass I feel at peace.  I am reminded of the grander scale of life and it humbles me.  Simple things like exploring the town or finding a good place to eat become more meaningful as I can once again enjoy the finer things in life.  A plastic, hollow world evokes hollow emotions.  But a world with weight that is connected on every possible scale evokes a fulfillment in the mind and body.  

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