Inner Adventures | Embrace an Inner Adventure Today!

It seems to be that the opportunities that ‘fall’ across my path without me outwardly seeking them are the ones that are perfectly designed to make maximum impact.   Tuning myself to this awareness has enabled me to take the ‘pedal off the metal’ so to speak and I am now, finally, allowing myself to go with the flow instead of trying to MAKE things happen.    So what do I need to learn?

Lawn Mowing :-o

If you had told me that I would be mowing lawns I would have thought you crazy.  I had always hired someone to do that ‘stuff’ and it was always the hubby’s job.  I had no desire to push a mower and never saw it coming.

So in walks Tim Tam, (affectionately named by moi due to his affinity with the bickie variety) who has been cutting my grass for the last six years.  Tim Tam informed me he was inundated with work.  I was between jobs, I had the time, open every door Justine - a union was formed.   I did fail to inform him however that I had never pushed a mower in my life, I felt it unnecessary to burden him with such a trivial piece of information.  I mean really, how hard can it be?

Oh well, was I in for a shock.  10 lawns in 7 hours on my first day – I was exhausted!  My body ached all over, I had bruises up my arms, calluses on my hands and my legs felt like lead.  And here I was thinking I was a fabulously fit 40 lass who frequented the gym 3 times a week.  However this was not a 1 ½hr fitness session - this was 7 hours non-stop go go go!

There was much to learn.  The variety of grasses, different mowing levels, straight lines, starting the bastard, steep hills to manoeuvre, don’t go over rocks, don’t mow too low, this customer is fussy, level 1 for going up hills, 4 and 5 in that section, start on 3 here, you’ll get the hang of it, don’t change the levels on the grass, go across not up and down,  loop it 3 times so the mower doesn’t fly out of the truck, mulch here, catch there.  I cut my fingers, dealt with blood blisters, broke nails, I was dirty and smelly, the body was aching and tired.

I loved every bit of it!

In between driving to the next job I gave Tim Tam business advice, he charges way too little for what he does!  In return I learned the ins and outs of pigeon racing, what’s involved in organising a Bathurst 1,000 nudie run and what it means to indulge in a Darby’s pie and Coke for lunch.  Oh I mean Cola!  I also learned that when in Holland, don’t ask for Coke, they think it means you’re after the white stuff!

Alas, my lawn mowing days have come to a halt for the time being.  I’ve taken the ‘ns’off law(ns) and I’m returning to law for a little while … the next ‘opportunity’ to fall my way and take me on yet another inner adventure no doubt!

I’ll miss Tim Tam, our chats about life between jobs, watching him flick dog poop on himself whilst whipper snippering, the laughs we shared and the great team we made.  I’ll miss that exhausted feeling of a good days physical work and falling into bed, sleeping like a log.  The great satisfaction of leaving someone’s lawn looking smart and new and knowing the pleasure they will experience when they return home.

Lawn mowing has been a blessing in so many ways, more than I ever realised.  It showed me how effortless it is to stay present and in the moment, to be at peace within.  That I can take this gift into the next ‘opportunity’ and be just as present, still and in the moment.  That it doesn’t matter what you do in life, when you are happy within, if your heart sings, if there is joy - it means you are EXACTLY where you are meant to be!

So very grateful for this Zen experience.

Jay Del Ray

Zen & the Art of Lawn Mowing