Since it’s the beginning of the year, I’ll start with telling you one of the resolutions I made last year: I decided I would give up the word “should.” And I listened to myself! Even in the middle of a sentence, if I said “I should” or “he should have”... It doesn’t matter if he should have—he didn’t. What I really mean, and what is much sweeter for my mind to hear, is “I wish I had done that,” or “I wish he had,” and now that I say it that way. It just keeps my mind a sweeter neighborhood with less bad people in it.
Sylvia Boorstein
Spirit Rock Residential Teacher
Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, has taught Dharma and mindfulness meditation since 1985 and is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock. A psychologist as well as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she emphasizes daily life, citizenship, and social activism as integral to practice. Her books include It’s Easier Than You Think, Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There, That’s Funny, You Don’t Look Buddhist, Pay Attention for Goodness’ Sake, and Happiness Is an Inside Job.