Vent

Today's Bingo: Vent. Do you walk in the door and pour out all your troubles? Are you the person in the office most likely to rant? How do you start the conversation? Venting is one of the great arts of mindfulness. To express what you really think and feel (but not alienate the person you're talking to or dump your crap all over their shoe) takes presence. The simple technique: Say, "I need to vent" before you go on your diatribe. Then you have told the world what you're about to say is not personal, and that you're in control of your emotions (and that's why you want to get rid of the bad ones).

End

Today's Bingo: End. "I just want this to be over," said the young monk to himself, tired of so much meditation. An older monk was leaving the temple at the same time. He walked beside the young monk and said nothing. "Don't you have anything to say," said the frustrated student. The old monk smiled. "That moment already is over--for everyone but you."

Midnight

Tonight's Bingo: Midnight. "This is the martini shot," the director yelled. The martini shot--the final set-up of the night. The star delivered his lines twelve different ways. He is a veteran and gifted. The clocks rolled toward midnight and the crew began clearing out the gear. They're filming in a new location tomorrow. The crew will work all night, until it is a new day. What is so precious to you, you'll work past midnight and smile between takes?

Bright

Today's Bingo: Bright. The man walks into the hall. He has just turned forty and all his friends and family have gathered for the party. As he looks around, most people aren't smiling. Throughout the evening, when he greets them personally, of course, they beam congratulations and good wishes. As he drove home, he promised himself he will smile more, whether he has reason or not.

Memory

Today's Bingo: Memory. "What is the first thing you remember?" The little girl asked. "My dad telling me that thunder was just the Gods bowling," the Grandfather replied. "What about you?" "I remember you buying me cotton candy at the fair." The old man thought for a moment. "You weren't even two." The little girl smiled. "It was a perfect day," said the girl.

Love

Today's Bingo: Love. The old man walked down the city street. He passed a couple outside a bar fighting. She screamed, "How could you?" The old man kept walking. Then he saw a well-dressed couple getting close in a doorway. She said, "Don't tell anyone." The old man kept walking. He passed a woman on a bench, her face sad. She looked up. The old man said, "May I sit down?" She nodded, paused, then said, "He left me." The old man smiled. "Tell me your story, and I bet we find that you're still worth loving."

Wrap

Today's Bingo: Wrap. The actors took their places. They delivered their lines again and again. The director gave instructions. When he saw exactly what he wanted, he screamed, "That's a wrap." The applause filled the air and everyone smiled.

Really

Today's bingo: Really. The people you least expect will disappoint you. The people you least expect will exceed your expectations. Give people freedom and they will surprise you. When you really need someone, ask.

Swing

Today's bingo: Energy. "Mommy, I'm tired," said the little girl. "Me too," said her mom. "What shall we do about it?" The little girl looked around at her house with so many things, the calendar on the fridge filled with dates, and the stack of homework on the kitchen table. She said, "Mommy, I'd like to go swing."

Stars

Today's Bingo: Stars. If you could meet all your favorite movie stars, who would you be? Would you make clever jokes? Would you be gracious? Would you just stay out of the way? The answer reveals who you are. When we're mindful, we're our comfortable selves--wherever we are, whoever we're with, because we're all worth loving.

Expectation

Today's Bingo: Expectation. "This is going to be the best day ever," said the four year old upon hearing that his aunt and uncle were staying for the entire day. What do you need to feel the same pleasure right now?

Respect

Today's Bingo: Respect. The lion walked into the jungle and said, "Who will let me eat them for dinner that I will spare their friends." A gazelle walked out and said, "If you can catch me, I will be your feast. But if you fail, you will never trouble this jungle again." For hundreds of years, the tale of 'The Chase' became the favorite bedtime story for all the young creatures.

Late

Today's Bingo: Late. "You're late," said the old man. "For what," said the child. "I forget," said the old man. "Good," said the child. "I like you better when you don't worry about little things."

Fabric

Today's Bingo: Fabric. The universe is an expanding fabric of stars, stretching what is into what wasn't. Silk can make a fabric, and so can cotton. It is also connection. It is the system that holds everything together. Is the fabric of your life love or something far less powerful?

Set

Today's Bingo: Set. Imagine your life as a movie. What would the set look like? Your perfect home, your favorite coffee shop, the overlook where you said "I love you." The crews would work all day to make it just as you directed. What can you do right now to make the places you spend your time ready for ACTION?

Bend

Today's Bingo: Bend. Did you know that a tree in a bio dome is weaker than a lone tree on the prairie. Without wind, the bio tree has never been tested. The tree on the plain, vulnerable to the elements, is able to bend without breaking. The mindful person does not worry about trouble because you know you will not break.

Exquisite

Today's Bingo: Exquisite. The tired man sat down at the kitchen table and his shoulders slumped. After an impossible day, he did not know what to do next. His daughter placed a plate of dinner in front of him: Eggs--the only thing she knew how to make. He forced a fork full into his mouth. He was about to swallow, when he paused, and slowed his chewing. He suddenly became careful, and tasted every bit. It was perfect. He looked at his daughter, completely confused and grateful. "I picked some fresh herbs." She smiled. "Everything can be made better."

Dove

Today's Bingo: Dove. Peace. Flight. Knowing that there is nothing more important than to feel free enough to watch the sky and forget the earth. A child let's go of her balloon as the bird takes off and she looks up and claps her hands saying, "Fly, fly."

Professor

Today's Bingo: Professor. She walks in the door like a matador, and then spins around the room with learning. Wisdom is her red cape. We cheer, and laugh, and wait for the next move. When the arguments have been made--the dance nearly complete--we know what comes next: She must kill our ignorance. It is always with a question. This day: Who teaches you?

Sky

Today's Bingo: Sky. "Grandpa," the child asked. "Why is the sky blue?" "Molecules in the sky scatter sunlight." "No, silly," replied the child. "I wasn't asking you. I wanted to make sure you knew. It's blue because Mother Nature ran out of the other colors when she was painting the world."