The Man Who Wouldn't Come In From The Cold
Have you ever thought about the importance of community and what it means in your life?
Today’s podcast is about The Man Who Wouldn’t Come In From the Cold and how he teaches us about community and the meaning of life.
I hope you are enjoying the show . To thank you and to support your practice each week on Thursday a new guided meditation will be available on the member site. To access the guided meditation go to https://patreon.com/yourmindfullife.
Awhile ago I read an article in The New York Times about a doctor who has spent his career working with unhoused people living on the streets and sleeping rough under bridges, in subways, and in makeshift accommodations. It stayed with me and with it came questions about the meaning of life and community, asking to look deeper into what it means to be mindful—to really pay attention in the moment—and what it means to be compassionate—to really help without having a stake in the outcome.
Some of the questions we explore are : Am I really present? Am I seeing what is here? Or am I seeing only some perspective that serves me in some—to scare me away so I’ll be safe or to assume that somehow I have the answer to the messiness in front of me.
Some of the questions are tough—like who is this compassionate act serving? Me? Or the person who is receiving my action? And, am I tied somehow to the outcome—something in me wanting to be this way and not that way.
When we are really present we are not taking sides, nor are we assuming we have the answers. The power of presence is that it allows us to really see—to pause and to ask clarifying questions—and the power of compassion is that is allows us to answer the question, "How can I help without being tied to the outcome?" Both show us the power of letting go—letting go of our attitudes and beliefs and letting go of wanting to control outcomes.
Perhaps this week, ponder how the stories we hear can help us to be more present, to get to know how our minds work, and to be truly compassionate.
Thank you for listening.
I’d also like to thank the people behind the show that make it possible
Gorgias Romero for original music, audio engineering and production;
Bill Rafferty for technical web support;
Allie Allen for logo and podcast cover design; and
Margaret Haas for announcing the show
Be well. Be mindful.
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Follow or subscribe and review the podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Become a member of the show via Patreon and receive a weekly guided meditation by clicking here or copy the link and :paste in your browser www.patreon.com/yourmindfullife.
Thank you with all my heart.
CREDITS/RESOURCES
Kidder, Tracy, “‘You Have to learn to Listen’: How a Doctor Cares for Boston’s Homeless.” The New York Times, digital edition, January 5, 2023. Adapted from the book by Tracy Kidder, Rough Sleepers: Dr Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People, Random House, New York, January 2023
DISCLAIMER
The content in the podcast and on this webpage is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical or health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice and guidance of your health professional.
