Practice

“what we practice is often a marker of ritual in our lives . . . an indicator of what we value.”

What comes to mind when you think about the word “practice?”

My first thoughts go to my kids and all the years they practiced sports, from elementary school onward.  My son ultimately played college football – he was a kicker – and practice was ingrained into his daily routine from high school until he graduated college.  Every day.  Holidays included.  He even took his football on his youth pilgrimage to Ireland so he could practice every day while away.  

I think about those who practice medicine.  You might think that after years of study and preparation, no further practice would be needed – but that’s not the case at all.  Physicians continue to practice – to hone their skills and apply new methods, ideas, strategies and technologies.  They run practices, where they join with other professionals to find new solutions and improve lives.

My thoughts also go to the spiritual.  We practice our faith, our rituals.  For many, the practice of religious or spiritual rites is constantly renewing and energizing, even if the words we say and the sacraments we observe are repetitious.  We find strength and new directives from the practice of the rites.

Have you thought lately about what you practice in your life?  Perhaps it’s a musical instrument or a new language.  Perhaps you practice presentations that you will deliver as part of your job or profession.  Or perhaps you practice a skill or craft that you want to perfect.

What we practice is often a mark of ritual in our lives and can often be an indicator of what is important to us . . . what we invest in and value the most.  As a health coach and someone who is focused on enhanced quality of life, especially as I age, I am thinking a lot these days about practices that enhance wellness.  

And while that might logically lead to thoughts of good food or exercise – both laudable areas of practice to incorporate in daily living – I think we might also consider the benefits of practicing things like rest and mindfulness, which also play a huge role in our overall wellness.

One of my favorite authors, Frank Ostaseski, provides some insight about how we might approach practicing rest: 

“If we hope to find true rest, we need to see clearly the currents that disturb us.  Yet recognition is only the beginning.  To make real change, we have to dive deeper to understand the specific ways that we have been conditioned throughout our lives.  Then we can address the underlying causes of our internal distress or lack of restfulness.” (from “The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully”)

This kind of rest takes practice – perhaps a lifetime of practice.  But like so much else that is truly important to us – truly ritualistic in our lives – it will be constantly renewing and rewarding.  

Wishing you all success in your practice, and the rest that comes with doing it well!