I’m reading “Start Where You Are” by Pema Chodron. And honestly, I’m not like .. 100% understanding. I’m not huge into Buddhism so there have been a lot of phrases that are wildly unfamiliar to me, but I just keep reading.

So, she presents the idea of like .. just thinking the word “thought” while meditating, which acknowledges it and then allows it to go.

So, I’ve been experimenting with a similar idea at work today. “Person”

When the coworker I struggle with starts triggering me, I mentally say “person”. When I’m on a call and the person is being an idiot, I tell myself, “person”.  Because sometimes I forget that past my annoyances is like… an actual person, who is also at their job, or dealing with I don’t know what, right?

Have I been a beaming ray of sunshine, showing perfect love and tolerance today?

No.

But I have felt better and I do believe that has enabled me to treat the other person better. And when I start thinking really annoyed, mean thoughts, I say to myself, “thought” and I try to let it disperse.

I know it sounds simple and silly and maybe it won’t work for you. I’m sure there will be days that it won’t work for me. But I can say I am currently finding it beneficial, and that feels big.

Accepting the other person, accepting my irritation, prioritizing humanness.

These are very basic concepts but still things I forget or overlook when I’m busy and annoyed.

The word of the year for 2025 for me is Progress and this concept feels like making progress.