I never really thought of contemplative practices before I signed up for this class. I have never done it before. But here I am, learning new things even if it’s out of my comfort zone. My life before this class was fast-paced. Even with covid hits, my life was fast-paced, and I never really took the time to use contemplative practices to clear my mind or have a different perspective. Being a first-generation kind made me not slow down in my life to think because I am always expected to get a degree, a job, and a family. I could never stop and think about my feelings or my reflection on life, which affects my mental health. I kept moving on and ignored those thoughts until I took this class. This class made me more aware of my inner work and got to know my inner work. The practices every morning during class time, when we close our eyes and the professor would give us the prompts to think about. I appreciate how I can breathe and think about what’s around me.
One practice that resonates with me is the one contemplative practice about the first time I did it in class. I am translucent on the contemplative practice’s subject, but I remember Death and what the matter of Death means to me. The way I experimented with my thoughts on Death as a personal subject was a gateway for me to understand the Anthropocene in this class and how Death should not be a taboo subject. It’s a part of life. The class and the practices made me realize that Death is part of our cycle. It shouldn’t be taboo or to avoid it. My family always talks about immorality projects, or they seem to want a legacy of wealth and prosperity. Our lives are so in tune within the system that we can never stop thinking and realizing our faults as people and our environment on this planet. I believe that’s why many people within my situation and my social status are struggling with it so that they could never stop and think. They keep surviving until Death or the end of the world hits them. To conclude, those contemplative practices do help see what’s ahead of you.
Hi Jessa,
Your post was incredibly thought out and personal which I deeply appreciate. As someone who has struggled with anxiety my entire life I have often relied upon yoga and other forms of mindfulness to give myself and my thoughts a break, as you mentioned in your blog. I am very impressed about your comment regarding being a first generation student and cannot imagine the sorts of pressure this applies on your consciousness as well as your mental wellbeing. I agree with what you mentioned about death being part of the natural cycle, and according to our readings from our last week in class death is not something to be avoided or hidden from. Instead we should take advantage of the natural progression of evolution and use our time upon earth to better the world for future generations, whether we have children or not. Death is not something to be feared but instead a motivation to make the most of our presence in this system and appreciate the moments there are. It is interesting to me that your family speaks often about immortality projects as although it has become virtuous to pursue this goal it is denying the beauty of humanity. We are here for the time we are allotted and thus we should not be lazy with the opportunity.