Pausing With The Group

Feeling a strong connection with myself and the group with our pause together at noon. Going through the seven steps of sensing the limbs and 'brains' a force of attention begins to coalesce and gains force within my being. I try to divide the attention between the action of inner work and at the same time to be aware of what's going on in my immediate environment. The effect is amplified when I find an equilibrium of attention between inner and outer.   

As the force of presence becomes palpable I notice an impulse to derive meaning from the experience, to tell a story, but I see that this is unnecessary, and simply continue to work and watch. I know that this work is not for my mind, but rather for my being, and I am content to allow the results to contribute to an overall capacity for presence. 

During the day I allow the inquiry, "Am I awake?" to enter, and measure my level of consciousness with the question. The answer is not a clear yes or no but rather affords a glimpse into my state as it is. Am I daydreaming about this or that, past and future, fixating on a worry or concern about something not present? The inquiry also provides a call to gather myself, to bring mind in contact with body, to work to harmonize my parts into a more cohesive presence.