Let’s talk about my relationship with novelty, meditation and making peace with leaf blowers. I’ll explain. A number of years ago, I heard one of my favorite pieces of advice: Start before you’re ready.

For me, it has a different connotation than “fake it, till you make it.” Start before you’re ready felt more empowering in my struggle to overcome procrastination, inertia and self-doubt. It acknowledges that there’s never a perfect time to do it, so why not now.

Some people use this philosophy to embark on house cleaning or marathon training, I kind of use it as my reminder that there will never be enough time to do everything you’ve ever wanted to do in this life, so you better get to it.

When I was in college, the quote I had imprinted on my checks. Yes, I order paper checks in the mail and I used them to pay bills with envelopes and stamps. Shocking, I know. Anyway, there was the option of having a line on your checks that featured a personal quote. I don’t know what inspired it, but I remember the line I chose at the sage age of 18, “At the end of your life, no one wishes they had worked more.”

This was an early guiding principle but I couldn’t have told you that then. I just thought the phrase was pithy and I imagined it would make some bureaucrat smile or grimace as they processed by payment.

Out of college I embarked on a career in journalism, but five years after graduation I realized that everything was happening too fast. Career, complacency, responsibility… I was aboard the Life Train and I was speeding along to my next predetermined destination. I was on the road to marriage, homeownership, kids, burnout.

I abruptly exited the train before the next scheduled stop. It was an impulsive decision. I didn’t know you could do that, but it was easier than you’d think. I grabbed my bags, pulled the stop cord and walked out. Yes, it was frightening and no, I didn’t have a map or compass with me.

I was a first-generation college graduate. I had a “good job”, a good life, but it felt like something happening to me, not something I’d chosen.

Long story, short: I got off the train and ended up in Scotland for a year, then Spain and over about 14 months, I visited dozens of countries and cities. By the time I returned to the States, I was forever changed. I have had more addresses than is reasonable for one human who has worked full-time in-person jobs consistently.

My current hobbies include sewing, Spanish, vegan cooking and plant care. I am not particularly good at any of them but that’s hardly the point.

So to refer back to the title above, starting is pretty easy for me. I am a “OK, sure why not,” “What time are we going?” “Where do I sign up?” type of person. I love novelty which is one of my challenges.

My love of novelty coincides with an aversion to routine.

So starting is easy, but consistency is trickier. That’s part of my love and appreciation for movement and meditation. There are innumerable ways to do both. For most it’s easy to think of countless fitness pathways, I’ve taken courses ranging from acrobatics and belly dancing to ballroom and rhythmic drumming.

Meditation can be just as varied. There are meditations that focus on the breath or bodily sensations. Sometimes, I meditate on the sounds around me from being present to the first arising reverberation to the distant fleeting echo of a passing plane (I live very near an airport) or often I’ll pick something with a stronger aversion-quality like the maintenance staff wielding the leaf blower. I like greeting these inevitable sounds with curiosity and kindness because what’s the alternative.

We can hate this sound or that sound or be enraged by this activity or lament that activity, but if it’s essential be it paying taxes or doing the dishes, there’s really nothing to gain from hating it.

Meditation has provided me with another way to meet life as it is, without needing to fight (metaphorically) every unpleasant sound, sensation or situation.

And no, I’m not never annoyed. I am a stereotypical Virgo, I am annoyed a lot. I’m just annoyed… for less time. That’s progress.

But do not take my word for it. Don’t take anyone’s word for it. If you’re curious, try it for yourself. A few minutes is all you need.

And if you’ve made it this far, maybe now is a good time. Here’s a short meditation using your most faithful companion: the breath.

If you indulge in any other short meditations, while washing the dishes, walking or listening to leaf blowers, let me know how it goes.