Thoughts on practicing

Zen meditation and AA sobriety are both referred to as "practices."  But of course practicing is any activity where you dedicate regular time and effort. Walking, drawing, painting, playing an instrument, knitting, gardening, biking, quilting, building birdhouses...it doesn't matter.

The problem with practicing is that our world is addicted to outcomes, and only a linear progression of competency from beginner to expert is proof of real progress.  How many times have you heard, "Practice makes perfect?"  Maybe, but perfection is always around the corner.

If you practice instead for the sake of practice, you'll start to notice the small shifts and changes and the self-critical voice quiets down. When that happens, the practice becomes the practice.  It doesn't make it any easier, because any practice requires focus and commitment to a discipline.  In meditation practice, everyone admits to "falling off the cushion" now and then.  With hobbies, we give up when we decide it's never going to be good enough.   

I ran across my old 2009 sketchbook while cleaning out a bookcase last week.  Somehow I found time back then to sit and doodle, copying plants and flowers from old botanical drawings. This isn't fine art or anything (self-judging, again) but I must have put some effort into these little pen and pencil drawings. It was a sad reminder of a practice I once enjoyed and let go.  What happened to that extra hour in the day? And what would I give up now to get it back?