Mindful Monday: A Tribute to Rush's Neil Peart

I’m really late with my blog today. I caused a flood in my upstairs bathroom and was sent a very disreputable plumber who broke two more things. I actually had a geyser in my side yard when he started using a shovel.

Oh Lord, it’s hard to be mindful when stuff goes sideways.  So no laundry done and no haus cleaning done. ☹ All my day off plans went awry. Something about mercury retrograde, for those who follow that.

Nevertheless, I have something really special to share today.  I was listening to the Army band tribute arrangement of “Time Stand Still” by Rush. Neil Peart recently passed away. The guy went through a lot in life and the last several years had a glioblastoma.

I remember how he dealt with tragedy when he lost his 19-year-old daughter in a car accident, and then 10 months later his wife died. He took off on his motorcycle and drove all the way from Canada to South America. (55,000 miles!) I’ve had my share of losses and my heart went out to him when I learned of his tragedy and his fortitude.

I am a writer and Neil was the primary lyricist for Rush. Here are the lyrics that really gave me all the feels:

"Time stand still
I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
Time stands still
See more of the people
And the places that surround me now

Time stands still

Freeze this moment
A little bit longer
Make each sensation
A little bit stronger" -- from Time Stand Still by Rush

Freeze this moment is fundamentally mindfulness. Feeling the emotion in “Make each sensation A little bit stronger” is mindfulness at a level I aspire to.

Enjoy the Army band:

 Click Here to Listen

 Neil Peart

September 12, 1952 - January 7, 2020