I’m currently living in the no-man’s land of transition time.  Since I have no permanent camp site I am working a series of part-time and temporary jobs.  One of which is trying to get work as an extra (i.e. background acting).

Yet in order to get work I have to call in, listen for a message that fits me, and then try to get ahold of the casting director to try and get booked.  (and I am never booked for the following categories: short, non-athletic, hot, sexy, plain, or arm candy . . . )

Although sometimes this feels like a stupendous waste of time, or worse yet a bizarre obsession for something of little material gain and no longer term potential . . . sometimes I find that the process of calling in can be meditative.

Three button pushes and all I have to ask myself is . . . is it ringing?

When my brain answers no, I quickly push the same three buttons and try again.  When I’m really fast these three button beeps sound like a triplet from a machine gun.  As I continue to try and connect I notice that my breathing slows, my mind empties and I am focused on listening for one thing — is it ringing?

There are all kinds of ways to practice meditation.  Formerly I would have thought of listening prayer, slowly reading bible verses, swimming, floating, hiking, yoga, or simply lying in the grass under the stars –but now LA’s given me a new one –calling in for work.  How bizzare!

For another meditative idea see Katie’s Blog.