What do you need?
As I compose these thoughts into a Google doc, I'm looking outside at spring eager to emerge on this rainy day at 10º Celsius. On my keyboard, my feeble fingertips are holding back the universe of information inside, no doubt much of it of use to someone, but at this moment, all I need to know is already obvious. I need a sweater. If I go outside I'll need a raincoat.
Even that second piece of information isn't need-to-know because I'm not going outside. My task now is to push thoughts from my brain, down my arms, and out of my fingers. This is what I decided I want to do.
Hah! The bots know I want to do anything but this hard work of generating a fresh thought for you, Gentle Reader. They may start by teasing greed: surely I need to know what's trending in men's fashion for summer. If they find my attention flagging, they can curate multiple levels of fear from the world's tragedies and imagined tragedies yet to unfold. Oh look! Here's something about my gut biome -- two for one: greed for health and longevity; fear of body dysmorphia. Look what's dropping on the streaming services this week! What about those Red Sox? Here's another email. Here's another text.
Right now, all I need is this breath. Now this one. Okay. Breathing is good. Breathing is all I need right now. The sun just came out. Spring announces itself in green fuzz covering the yard. The late afternoon golden-hour colors pop.
Stay present.
Oh yeah. I'm the one who brought up naming this enterprise, Kairos: sufficient force at the right time to hit a target.
Awareness, purpose, intention, opportunity, force, direction.
Of these, only opportunity is given or taken away. Originally Latin for the wind blowing toward the harbor. Awareness, purpose, intention, force, direction come from within.
Breathe.
Breath is an opportunity. Draw the spring air into the harbor of my lungs. My heart pushes the oxygen into my body to create awareness, purpose, intention, force, and direction.
Awareness: I am given the opportunity of this breath.
Purpose: what's the highest and best action for this breath?
Intention: strive for my highest and best.
Force: apply energy to what is most generative of the highest and best.
Direction: better than yesterday.
The bots want me to react. They have force and can be given direction. They don't have breath. They don't have awareness, purpose, intention.
Something greater than I am, has given me to be more than I am.
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Warm regards,
Francis Sopper