I’ve written before about a dog friend I have in Central Park, whose name is Daisy.  I see Daisy just about every morning as I walk across the park to my office.  She’s the one who barks all the time, saying a loud hello to anyone she thinks may have a cookie in their pocket or bag.  Her human companion is an older man, and Daisy’s moving into elderhood herself.  But, when she’s in the park, she’s as spry as any puppy.

For many years now, I’ve mostly seen Daisy and her human in the park itself.  Once in a while, I notice them walk by my office, or I might even see them on the street somewhere.  I’m always struck by how quiet Daisy is once she’s outside Central Park.  She seems to know that barking is okay when she’s there and that it’s not when she’s elsewhere.  The other day, I was in the bank and looked up to see Daisy and her human at one of the ATM machines.  What struck me most was how completely quiet and toned down Daisy was.  As her human turned to leave the bank, the two of them walked slowly and quietly toward the door.  As I watched, I knew that no one could possibly imagine – from the way Daisy behaved in the bank – what a bundle of energy and delight she could be once she’s in the park.

This got me to thinking about my own movement from one environment to another and how there are certain places where I feel energized and filled with enthusiasm and other places where I’m quieter and more reserved.  I marveled at the importance of having places in our lives that allow us to let loose and express and enjoy ourselves in positive ways yet with some degree of abandon.

For this week’s experiment, I invite you to become even more aware of those times and places that allow you to let loose or in some other way fill up with energy, enthusiasm, vitality or another quality that feeds you deeply.  There’s no right answer about how you feed yourself these kinds of qualities.  For example, some of the dogs who inhabit Central Park in the morning get their greatest delight from chasing other dogs.  Others have their eyes glued only to the balls their human companions carry, waiting for those balls to take flight.  Other dogs get particular energy, as does Daisy, from engaging passing humans hoping for a tasty treat. 

The important thing is the presence of opportunities to loosen up and find enjoyment – to create a balance where there’s time for focusing and quiet, and time for expressing in some way that is meaningful and nourishing to you.  As with all the experiments, I invite you to play with this one – to give yourself permission to become more mindfully engaged in what you already know delights you and then, perhaps, to explore and try out some new possibilities.

You might notice your experience when you pay attention to the sensations in your body as you allow yourself enjoyment of whatever kind.  For example, what sensations do you have in your body when you have a good belly laugh?  What sensations arise when you are excited by something beautiful or awe-inspiring?  How about when you do an activity that challenges you in a way that enlivens and awakens your senses?

The key here is to notice where you create opportunities to have energetic as well as quiet times and, especially, where you allow yourself to let go and loosen up in ways you might not do elsewhere.

As with all the experiments, play with this one and allow curiosity to be your constant companion.  Also, if possible, set aside self-consciousness and/or judgment so you can be free to explore and experiment.