Slow down and improve my vision

Pause, Freeze and Frame Time.

Selana played gamelan with the More Music Ensemble in the Lancaster Festival of Lights in 2016. Gamelan is a traditional bronze percussion instrumental ensemble of Indonesia.

Tunnel vision is dangerous. Being too focused makes me unaware of things and can be off-putting to people around me.

When I work, I feel like I am in a mental high-speed train tunnel. I love my efficiency, ability to concentrate on details while coming up with ambitious goals that go in all directions all at the same time. However, being in the "tunnel" for too long give me a false sense of being safe.

When was the last time I came out of that "tunnel"?

In reflection, the very first time that I came out of my "tunnel" was when I performed in an Gamelan ensemble for the first time in Lancaster. We improvised together continuously for about 2 hours, in a light drizzle, in the night at the Lancaster Castle. The atmosphere was magical and I went into a trance. 2 hours felt like 15 minutes to me. When the ensemble was over, I felt totally calm and peaceful.

"I felt like I was being in a spiritial zone." I said to my friends who also played in the ensemble.

He said that this is normal. When people meditate, they often lose their senes of time and it relaxes and frees the mind and the spirit. I am not an expert on meditation, however, I appreciate the head and heart space Gamelan opened up for me. I didn't know that space like this actually exists within me.

I can't play Gamelan at my leisure any time because there isn't an Gamelan ensemble around me. However, I can certainly recreate moments of tranquility to "Pause, Freeze and Frame" time, so that I can let my mind and my heart remain open and free.

Some of the meditative things that I do now include daily journey, and blogging, jogging and yoga, drawing, listening to music and singing. I'd like to hear the ways you "pause, freeze and frame" your time.