The Doldrums are not a Sign to Follow

After I wrote my last blog about the doldrums, I decided to go on a motorcycle ride. By myself? Yes, by myself. I headed west toward Binghamton. Even though I accelerated to top speed, my mind and body still felt as though they were stagnate and lethargic. The weather was great. The traffic was fine, so I eventually turned North onto Road 369 figuring I’d head back home the long way and enjoy the scenery. After driving for about a half an hour the road took me to the top of a peak that gave me a magnanimous vista of many peaks. It dawned on me divine Mind is much bigger than my human experience and I can trust the bigger.
Then I came to Route 7 and noticed the sign told me to turn left if I was going to head East but EVERYTHING, all human emotions and sensations of my body told me east was to the right. I followed my instinct, which was to follow the signs and not my emotions and sure enough I made it home. But, first I had to stop and eat a snack and go to the bathroom. A gentleman chatted with me about riding.
Instinct tells me to follow the signs great leaders, such as Christ Jesus, gave us to follow, even if it doesn’t feel comfortable or right. We can do things on our own. We will meet friendly people, we will see the beauty. And, I am glad the doldrums passed away.
I am thankful God has a sense of humor and immeasurable patience to help me on my journey. That bike ride, the mountains, the sunshine, the nice people, the signage, got through to me.

Upstate NY mountains

What to do about the Doldrums

Food doesn’t taste good, polite conversation is boring, reading is monotonous, and being a couch potato sounds ludicrous…is this the doldrums?

In this definition, the doldrums pique me. I go through a series of attitudes: first, disappointment; second, wondering what’s wrong with me; and third, I come to the realization that the doldrums prove that nothing in this world is attracting my attention. There is no lure to eat doughnuts to make me feel better. There is no enticement to meet friends. There is no temptation to get lost in a book. And, I have too much energy to sit around.

I’m stopped dead in my tracks, in the deep rut of human life.

I become anxious. I twirl my hair. I don’t want to walk in this rut. I don’t want to do what I normally do even though it is fine and happy. I don’t want to do what everyone else is doing today.

I twirl my hair some more.

I examine the depth of the rut I am in and realize it is too deep to jump out of. So, I start digging, making steps to climb out.
Step one: I appreciate the unseen good so often assumed other people have and I don’t.
Step two: I deny the lie that I have something someone else doesn’t.
Step three: I loosen my hold on the opinion that selfishness has power.
Step four: I pet my soft, adorable, humble cat.
Step five: I hold tight to the fact that nothing can stop Life, Love, and Truth from interpreting to me, and everyone, universal harmony.
I see light.

Well, well, I found another definition for doldrums from infamous Wikipedia: “The Doldrums, also called the “equatorial calms”, is a nautical term for the intertropical convergence zone, with special reference to the light and variable nature of the winds. It affects areas of the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean that are within the intertropical convergence zone, a low-pressure area around the equator, where the prevailing winds are calm.”

Atlantic Doldrums