I’ll Take the Unknown

Rebecca Solnit says the unknown is where the “most important things come from,” where we all came from and where we will return. She advises we leave this “door into the dark” open.  

The more present I am, the more I agree with her. To be in the moment is to walk through the door of equanimity, open to the experience it offers.

As similar as some moments are, no two are the same so there is always the element of the unknown, no matter how we might try to anticipate it.

The more present I am, the fewer anxieties I have. Immersing myself in each moment is its own preparation for whatever comes next.  My mind might stretch forward and look back but it is my breath that takes me into the present.  

Breathing is not magic; no moment will disappear. In the pause between breaths, I find perspective. It’s an amazing tool, this taking in and letting go of breath, and it has a lifetime guarantee.  

It is hard work to stay present, which is not to forget the past or to have no regard for the future. Rather, the present provides context for what was and possibility for what might be. 

Mark Nepo called breathing the “fundamental unit of risk.” Perhaps walking through the door of equanimity is risky but I’ll take the unknown.

Aim for Even posts offer equanimity a dose at a time. No day or dose is ever the same, even if the aim is. You may read about the origins of Aim for Even here or on this site’s About page.