Call me weird, but to me, mowing the grass is a very zen-like activity. When I start mowing, I get into a mental groove, and the repetition, strenuous exercise, the smell of the cut grass, and the satisfaction of seeing freshly mowed grass all combine to relax my spirit. When I mow the lawn, I don’t have to think about anything. My mind just sort of goes blank and I enter a peaceful place in my head as I push that machine back and forth. It’s very centering. I need that.

It’s winter. Why on earth am I thinking about mowing the grass?

Here in western North Carolina, it’s been cold, but not cold enough for the grass to stop growing. The past couple of days it’s been in the 60s. I noticed today the grass needs to be cut. It hasn’t been cut since October. I also need to clean my front porch, which is covered with leaves and other debris.

So tomorrow, after church (if it’s not raining, which weather forecasters are predicting) I’m planning to get out there with the mower and enter my zenlike space.

Besides having a nice looking lawn, I really need to spend some time away from this blog, doing something mindless yet enjoyable. So much has happened over the past few days concerning this blog–and then there was Christmas, which is always stressful even when it turns out as nice as it did for me this year. I just need to get back to basics and mow the damn lawn.

I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.

What kinds of activities relax and center you?