Jeremy Norbury recently died kayaking on a river back in NZ, a river I’d paddled a few times.
I couldn’t help but wonder what went wrong. He was so talented, but there were certainly some tricky bits, to put it mildly.
I watched a friend get stuck on the same river, swim out of his kayak, and then disappear down a chute into a sieve like formation of rocks. Sieve as in only water can get through.
He said later he opened his eyes under this great big rock, saw a triangle of light and swam for it. We pulled his jammed kayak out of the very same triangle the next day – it must have followed him.
I didn’t sleep very well that night.
Matt was lucky, sounds like Jeremy wasn’t.
I saw Jeremy every day. It’s still weird that he’s gone. The weirdest thing is that even though he was a big part of my life, I never even met him. But Instagram meant I felt I knew him, and really well.
I loved seeing his adventures, it gave life to my own dreams. Jeremy, and others like him, gave me inspiration to get out more often.
Rest well Jeremy. Thank you.
I don’t know … internet companions. Is it weird that I can become so close to someone I might never meet?
Ah, it’s a different world forming.
I love that fact that people can help inspire and motivate and educate from the other side of the world.
I know there’s a definite negative side to social media, as in it’s “a bad thing”.
So much of the criticism is true.
But maybe a big chunk of the negative influence is in the way that we use it?
There are so many things that could be – and are – addictive. That’s true since Eve was a girl.
If we are surrounded by things that can easily slip from good times to dependence, surely one of the things that behooves us is to be aware of any personal descent into need and negative habit and addiction?
Whether that’s the glass of wine on a weekend turning into two every night, or “just a quick surf of the ‘Gram” that descends into hours every day lost, or “just checking my messages” coming to mean you end up ignoring the people who are actually physically present in your life.
Maybe it’s not the thing but how we use it … or how it uses us?
It’s why I started Ascension meditation –
Because I wanted to cut the chains of need and dependence. As well as wanting freedom and joy, I didn’t want to need anything or anyone.
Enjoying the world yes, but needing anything to be a particular way? No.
I think intentional, wide awake living is heading towards something but it’s also being aware of what’s going to side track you from the life you want to live.
Awareness.
It’s so simple to be, but so rarely practiced or prioritised. The very thing that will help us the most is the very thing that eludes us when we need it.
But it’s just the three “Ps”: The basis of getting better at anything.
By making you Prioritise, Practice, and Protect your awareness, your focus and your calm, it gets easier to do, it becomes more second nature.
Then you know what’s happening in your life and can put your energy into the things that serve you most.
Eyes wide open, not sleepwalking through life.
And it’s never too late to begin. With every step, life opens up, more and more.
Less and less of what holds you back, more and more of what floats your boat.
I’ll be blunt:
Learn Ascension meditation. Honestly, it’s so simple and powerful to reset you back to here and now, and to what is important to you.
Ask me how. I would love to help.
Go well!
Arjuna
PS.
The next Ascension meditation course is 31 March - 2 April (starts 7pm Friday).
Just ask if you’d like more details.
Or look here – https://www.arjunaishaya.com/ishayasascension. It would be lovely to have you.
PPS.
My podcast: Ultrarunner Meets Monk – Conversations in an adventurous life: mastery, mindset, meditation and mindfulness
Episode 5: How to have peace without giving anything up (except the things holding you back)
https://youtube.com/live/mvOT3djKhcY or https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/Qs2EjlaWRxb
PPPS:
And of course, if you’re not ready for an Ascension weekend yet, my free mini-course in meditation and mindfulness and coaching group, The 200% Dojo, is here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/708920116904793