and the art of farting around

Recently, while in line at a drive-through coffee window, I felt a sudden pang of angst. The dopamine hit of an easy caffeine pick-me-up while my two little ones stayed strapped in the backseat paled in comparison to the nagging feeling of living out of alignment. I had forsaken my ethos, choosing convenience over connection.

This action, seemingly small, is the antithesis of who I hope to be. I am infinitely inspired byKurt Vonnegut’s wisdom about the art of farting around, an account of all the interactions he has simply by leaving his house to buy one envelope rather than ordering 100 to his home. Yet here I found myself talking to a screen rather than a human because I didn't want to go through the rigmarole of getting my kiddos out of their carseats...

Our modern era emphasizes busyness, perfectionism and efficiency, often leading to a life isolated. It is when I’m at my busiest that I seek a quick reprieve, the easy way out, convenience over connection. I purchase things and eat food and drink coffee without ever interacting with the hands that touched it before me.

During a dharma talk this past Teacher Training, we pondered the question "What is Enough?"  Recognizing we live in a world where water, food, shelter are unfortunately not a given, we intellectually answer this question with those basic survival needs, believing that should be enoughto feel content.

But is it?