Repetition is a key part of mindfulness, of meditation, of taking time to stop the rush and recalibrate ourselves. It appears in many ways and many forms – the regularity of the stride in running or walking (as so many will experience this weekend), the rhythmic movements of knitting, crochet and many other crafts or of conscious acts of meditation.
Repetition alone isn’t enough to recalibrate. To be mindful and benefit from the repetition, we need to be conscious of the rhythm, aware of the activity, and focused with appreciation.
This Sunday along with thousands of others I shall be willing my legs (and to be honest more importantly, my mind) to travel 26.2 miles in the London Marathon in aid of charity. I won’t be in London but on the towpaths of the Grand Union or on nearby country lanes if the weather gives us too much mud, undertaking the event virtually. Since it began in 1981, the London Marathon has raised £1billion for charities. Thanks to all my wonderful sponsors who have taken me over double what I hoped to raise for MIND, the mental health charity which provides invaluable support to so many sufferers and their families too. Thanks to my wonderful family for taking time out to come and be alongside me and to friends who have given me confidence and helped me train.
There is a point in longer events when we move from conscious thought about the action of our legs, our breathing, to a different state. That may be flow (as per psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s theory about the state of mind when we become totally immersed in an activity), it may be meditation, for me it is the only time I find my mind totally clear of thoughts that normally whizz around. I cease to think. My head is clear. I become more aware of the almost deafening birdsong around me, the vivid colours of trees and water, the scents of plants I pass. My senses are heightened in this state and it revitalises me – usually until some physical niggle breaks the spell.
Concert pianists talk about repetition or practice doing something similar for them once it goes beyond repetition to learn notes or patterns of notes. This may also be the case for other musicians – I’d be interested to know if it is the same for players of instruments that demand more direct physical engagement like brass.
It needs time for the repetition to create this state in running or walking, playing music and that goes for knitting or crochet too, for the repetition to move beyond clearing the thoughts of the day to focus on the task in hand, to move beyond to the heightened perspective. For some I imagine this is what training the body to daily meditation can also bring, a conscious clearing on the mind which I’m told happens more effectively and rapidly as the individual educates themselves. The repetitious use of prayer beads, or mantras takes the same approach, a focus on which an individual concentrates and thus centres themselves. When running I count, steps, breaths, and then it all just fades away.
For me it’ll be interesting to see if and at what stage of my 62,000+ steps tomorrow that state of focus appears and how long it lasts. Will I even be able to remember? I just know I’ll be grateful for it when it does arrive because it will help me on my journey to the finish.
Living afloat we know a fair bit about meditative repetition that underlies changing scenery. On Monday we will move on again with the boat, back to that gentle repetitious movement of travelling on water at 3mph, which is calming, soothing and in itself a form of meditation. Some boat engines lend themselves to meditation, others set the pulse in tune aligning more to heartbeats or CPR with great thumping beats – all something which will change with all-electric boats in the years ahead.
However you’re spending the weekend and the week ahead, whether you’re running, walking, knitting, meditating, praying, learning, gardening or boat moving – enjoy it – go with the flow and consciously make the most of the little moments.
Pickingupducks 