Natalie Goldberg often says, "do not get tossed away." It's a phrase she passes on from her Zen teacher Katagiri Roshi. Getting tossed away means not practicing (meditation, writing, other forms of practice).

What getting tossed away looks like for me:

- the kids get sick
- shopping online, especially after clicking an email advertising a sale
- when my emotions surge
- when my house is full of company
- when I travel


How to stay rooted, even when the above happen:

- wake up early
- stay up late
- hold back from checking email and/or looking at my phone for large swaths of time
- ask for space to write (when company is in town, when traveling)

Noticing when I get tossed away is the first step towards combating it. 

Photo by Gary Chan on Unsplash

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