Accomplishments

When I was in school an accomplishment was finishing a major assignment or passing a tough final. When I was working an accomplishment was making a breakthrough with a client or making my bonus. Today an accomplishment is doing a load of laundry or watering my plants. 

Accomplishments are necessary goals that keep me feeling good about myself, my skills and my life. Even though those goals have changed drastically over the last month, they're still important for me.

Here's a few examples of what I consider to be accomplishments this week:

1. I turned in my application for my town's disabled community transit and got my card. This gives me more options to get out now that I'm driving much less.
2. I asked my doctor to sign off on some important paperwork for me... and he did! 
3. I got my first SSI disability payment. That was an intense process and I felt proud that I accomplished it. 
4. I made it to the mall with my mom (she drove).
5. I made dinner last night. It was hard, but I did it!
6. I walked my dog twice this week with my chair.
7. I talked to my doctor about my new symptoms in person.
8. I made an appointment with a new neurologist and scheduled my next brain MRI.
9. I shaved my legs.
10. I went to the bank (like INSIDE!) and stood while I waited.

Beginner's Mind

Today we went to our little Farmers Market and ran some errands. I was practicing a Zen Buddhist technique I read about a long time ago called “Beginner's Mind.” It’s just as it sounds. You approach an experience like it’s the first time you’ve ever done it. The point is to keep you grounded in the present moment more and eliminate expectations (which in return should reduce or eliminate any feelings of annoyance, impatience or irritation.) 

Today I imagined that we’re away on vacation and going to visit a local farmer’s market that I’ve never been to before. Then I tried my best to see everything like it was the first time. Sure enough! I really enjoyed the experience, even more than I think I would have.

It also didn’t hurt that they finally have blackberries in! Getting a bag of bursting blackberries and eating it then and there while shopping is my favorite thing about the summer market. They are always the best blackberries ever. I could have taken the exercise even further by imagining that I'd never eaten a blackberry before, but I was too greedy. 

Another side benefit to "Beginner's Mind" that I noticed is that I was so wrapped up in what was happening in the present moment that it was easier to ignore my physical pain. It was still there and I still noticed it too, but it was a little quieter. This is something I'll try and incorporate more into my day-to-day.