Recently there has been loss of family members among those in my social network. Others in my circle are facing end of life. As I considered the inevitability of death I reflected on the Buddhist concept of befriending it. A practice that offers an opportunity to make peace with our mortality in order to more fully live.
My mind drifted to the metaphysical idea that we are temporary visitors in our bodies. Tourists. I know a lot about being a tourist having traveled to fifty countries and visited all fifty of the United States. I have been a responsible tourist.
As I tied these reflections together I wondered, Have I been a responsible tourist in my own backyard, my body? Have I minimized negative influences? Have I engaged with it in a positive way that supports its vitality? Have I been respectful?
Chronology, condition and capacity influenced my worldly travel. The same considerations impact my physical wellbeing. Experience has been my teacher. Learning to be a responsible tourist has enriched all my life journeys.
Cosmic Gardener - Cultivating a Life 