I am scheduled for jury duty at the  end of October. Speaking with a friend yesterday, I had a memory of the last time I did jury duty —  August 1984 in Los Angeles.  My memory showed a me from over thirty years ago.  Most of my memories show in observer view (i.e., I can see myself and my body in the view), and the me there surprised me with her callow youth.

The emotions that rose up were more than I expected.  I noticed behaviors I would no longer do — I think the additional age has something to do with it, but more likely my persistence with awareness practice.  I noticed — I am really different now.  I was surprised.  It caught me unaware and caused a physical reaction.

Planting a tree confirms the belief in small, incremental changes

It was like seeing a niece or nephew change dramatically when you haven’t seen them from age one to four.  Wow!  Except this period covered over twenty years.  Day-to-day, I don’t quite feel like an adult, but I got there somehow.  Don’t get me wrong, I have a long way to go, but I’m further up the mountain than I thought.