Sundays are fitting days to consider a spiritual path. I came to upstate New York more than 10 years ago, bringing the journals of Thomas Merton with me where I wrote “Running To The Mountain,” the first book recording what turned out to be an odyssey. Many people come to my blog and my books wanted to talk about cute cats and dogs, and they are often disappointed as that is a part of my life, but only one part.

I think my search for a spiritual life is the biggest part. It led to my relationship with Maria, my experience with animals, my blog, my photos, and now, my videos. This year, my long and hard work is taking some form.

I ended therapy a year or so ago. My spiritual counselor, Mary Muncil has guided me from there. I began serious meditation and began to understand my mind better. I worked hard to separate myself from the fear system that is American health care and that has been fruitful. I take no medications of any kind, I do not test myself for any reason unless I do not feel well. And I feel well, better than ever. I have found a wonderful alternative health care system that involves learning about nutrition, studying meditation, exercising and massage. It has worked for me.

I will certainly go to a doctor for help if necessary, but I find more and more, that it is often not.

I have expanded my story telling. Words, photos, videos. Telling my story is vital to my health and well-being.

I have opened myself to life and have found it. I am open to “alternative” forms of religion and health.

I have largely abandoned corporate notions of news, which distort the nature of the world and my life and are upsetting. I have left the political system behind, as it is neither healthy, productive or civic for me.  I am aware of the major events of the world – Japan, Libya, government shutdowns, as I check in once or twice a week. That’s enough for me.

I have returned to a passionate love of reading and music. I have left behind the people in my life who are angry, addicted to drama, who tell struggle and victim stories, and who believe life’s choices are arguments.

I am more aware than before of the discordant world that enters my consciousness and disturbs it. This is a choice. I am aware of the “Storm Center” culture that transforms so much of ordinary life into fear and drama and then profits from it. People who really care about me, I find, do not make much money from it.

Now, I am getting closer to finding a spiritual community, something I have long wanted. It might be where I started, in a Jewish community, something I left behind decades ago. I will not do this alone, only if my wife wants to share the process with  me.

I see that a spiritual life, a spiritual community is something I have passionately desired all of my life. It is getting close. I’ll share the process, as always.