The building in which I have my office has been a great teacher over the almost 21+ years I’ve been there.  Last year, every brick had to be removed and replaced in order to waterproof the 16-story building, which meant listening to a lot of drilling and the incessant grinding of the small cement mixer that was an essential part of the process.  Over the time it took to do the entire building, I had lots of practice in mindfully moving through what was real in the present moment, whether I liked it or not.  The job ended in November, and my nervous system and I sighed with relief at the relative silence outside my windows.

Then, the day after Labor Day, I returned to discover that the building is replacing the sidewalks.  Since my office is on the corner, I have windows along the sidewalk in front of the building, as well as the sidewalk along the other side.  When I heard the jack hammers start up first thing in the morning, I discovered that my first thought was, “This is time limited.  It will go away in a couple of weeks, so it’s only a matter of time ‘till the quiet returns.”

To say that this is a different kind of response for me puts it mildly.  Years ago, I would have fought and struggled with the presence of the noise, the workmen, the disruption of my space.  And so, as I registered the thought that it’s only a matter of time ‘till the quiet returns, I realized how much I’ve learned over the years of adversity in this office space.  Somewhere along the way, I discovered that annoyances and disturbances would come and then they would go.  Apparently, it’s the “then they would go” piece that has finally taken up residence in my mind and acts as a true resource.

For this week’s experiment, I invite you to play with the idea that irritations, annoyances, momentary disturbances in the easy flow of the day will eventually go away, given time.  Sometimes, when disturbances go away, we find that we or our circumstances have changed.  The change may be for the better, or it may begin a period of challenge.  Whatever the outcome, for this particular experiment, the goal is to focus on the fact that, when things come into your life that intrude or bother you, you can play with the idea that “they come and then they go”.  As you try on this idea – or another one that makes more sense to you – notice what happens in your psyche and body.  Does your body relax or soften a bit more or do you notice tension?  Does your mind soften or do you continue to struggle with something you can’t change?

As with all the experiments, the goal isn’t to get it right or achieve anything in particular.  Rather, it’s an opportunity to explore how you respond to situations you wish weren’t happening, and can’t change.   Do you add more distress by struggling or fighting with what is, or do you find that a thought can offer a bit of breathing space as you remember that what arises also inevitably moves on.  It’s also an opportunity to notice how those situations that arise and bring challenges with them can become teachers that support your journey in conscious living.