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Constant Growth - Jack Kornfield - Shedding Old Skin

Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.

from:  Buddha’s Little Instruction Book

 I got this one from Good Reads website:


And again I doubled search the source and found out that even though it is attributed to Gautama Buddha, it is really from Jack Kornfield.  Hats off to Fake Buddha Quotes “I Can't Believe It's Not Buddha!" website.

 I was pulled to this quote because what I am trying to do is start a new phase in my life.  I have done this before, as we all have.  Sometimes with more success than others.  But when I am getting discouraged, I think "How many rabbits can I pull out of my hat."

 The past for me, at this point, is to get rid of bad habits and substitute in better ones.  Unlike the snake, which has only one skin to shed, we have many "skins."  Laziness, Ennui, Memories, Weight, Sedentary days and nights, Wasting time, TV, Facebook, Instagram, Video games, Youtube, "What if's" and other regrets.

 The effort to create when you haven't been creating for a while is like swimming across a river for the first time.  You might see from the bank where you think you will land.  But you get in and have to choose to continue.  And the current may turn you around or trap you in an eddy.  You might not end up where you thought you would step out of the river.  

 However, keep remembering that if I don't leave the bank, I'll never change my circumstances.

 Maybe I'll make a list of all of my bad "skins" and see what opportunities are on the other side.  For me, two I can identify easily are watching TV and reading the news.  How many hours do I spend on those activities and miss making positive changes?

Gratitudes:  Electric fans, clean sheets, and audio books.
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