My COVID Retreat?

My environment is a constant—my home and walks in areas I have walked many times before. The decisions I make daily are limited to what to eat or drink, what household chore to do and what diversion should I indulge in to hold the boredom at bay. My days have lots of routine—daily and weekly teaching and lesson preparation, lots of meditation (all the giants in the meditation world are offering pandemic teachings –usually free), a weekly grocery shop (now with a mask) and lots of silence (some days I only speak while leading a short meditation) and much time for reflection.

As I do on retreats, I miss my family and friends and my normal routine.  But I am deeply grateful for the sense of familiarity that I have had for these few weeks. Without all the previous weeks on retreat I am not sure I would be managing as well as I am.

I am also deeply grateful for years of learning and contemplating mindfulness themes like impermanence, don’t know mind, living in the present moment, letting go of outcomes, loving-kindness and self-compassion among others

From time to time I have toyed with the idea of a long retreat—maybe 3 months. As I approach the end of week 7 of staying home, I am thinking I may get my wish!