Not enough Zen

Some friends of mine moved house last weekend and returned some books to me. Among those that definitely were mine was one that definitely wasn't. This was "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" by Robert Pirsig. I think I borrowed another copy out of the library years ago but I've now given this one a good home.

I thought all that business about being Phaedrus was a lot of precious rubbish but I still enjoyed this book. I dipped into it again and, as I read about listening to one's machine and getting to know it, I was immediately struck about how little time I have for this these days. Running a publishing empire in your spare time does that to you.

So I'm going to do something about increasing the zen in my life. I need to commune with my old motors more and lose myself in the act of drawing and writing. I never stopped doing these things - it's just that my mind is on so many other things at the moment. That's okay. My thoughts just need to be focussed a bit more on the job in hand.

This idea tied in with a discussion I had with a very good friend of mine last weekend whilst at the Vintage Sports Car Club hillclimb at Wiscombe Park. See my Engine Punk blog for more about this amazing event. That's the hillclimb, not the occasion of me having an idea.

Of course, we both wanted to have a go at a Vintage hillclimb but recognised the commitment this would acquire. The car would cost a bit for a start. If my other motorsport experiences are anything to go by, hillclimbing would probably preclude a great deal of my other activities but that state of affairs wouldn't last for ever. Unless I got hooked on it, of course.

But for the time being, the zen has gotta be focussed on the book publishing empire building. Or rather, on the act of writing, designing and promoting my book. Getting amped about IT doesn't count. If it's hard or vexatious to the spirit, you're doing it wrong.

Receiving this much read copy of this book served as a timely reminder that I'm nearly doing things right.