mindfulness

about a week ago, i was talking with a friend over dinner and the concept of mindfulness came up. the discussion grew out of a previous conversation about the difficulties of western (specifically american) buddhism from a metacultural perspective, and also how she had eaten a lot of food that still had a head during time spent abroad.

i've been sort of fixated on the idea of being, broadly, more mindful. not necessarily with food, although taking stock of the externalities of my chicken nachos isn't a bad thing, but with experience in general. i'm nowhere near turning to the bodhisattva trip, and my disbelieving ass is unlikely to start embracing some new level of spirituality, but the concept is something to consider.

so, after having spent saturday through today being largely indolent and gluttonous, celebrating my separation from work and students, i've come to a realization that is pretty cool:

i miss the kids.

i spend more time with a group of 15-17 year olds than i do with anyone else in my life, and i'm beginning to appreciate the ways in which that is changing me for the better. i want to be good at this job because they need me to be. factor into that calculus of connection the extent to which i dig the kids as people (there really isn't a single student who i dislike, regardless of how annoyed i might be by her/him), and i'm starting to get a different handle on the "why" of this gig.

all told, my job is pretty fucking cool. i'll keep it in mind.