There is a classic text which tells of a sitar or lute player who gets discouraged in his meditation practice and asks the Buddha for advice. “What happens when you tune your instrument too tightly?” the Buddha asked, to which the musician answered “The strings break,”. “And what happens when you string it too loosely?”, the Buddha continued, “When it’s too loose, no sound comes out,” the musician answered, “the best tune comes from a string that is not too tight and not too loose.” “That,” said the Buddha, “is how to practice: not too tight and not too loose.”
That should be our resolution for meditation for this year – not too loose but also not too tight. Too loose means that we do not make it a priority and do not structure it into our schedule; however too tight means that we are harsh with ourselves when we fail or it becomes another thing to feel bad about. The Cookie Monster does not have it completely right – we do not wish to nourish our familiar patterns of avoidance by running away from difficult moments, but wish to look at everything that arises in our every moment. However, he makes us smile and take things – and ourselves – a bit lighter and in that he is a good teacher.
Mindfulbalance 
Thank you Karl, Happy New Year yo you! 😊
Hi Chris,
Sorry for the slow reply to your Christmas and New Years greetings. I hope that you are well and that we will indeed meet for that coffee, although you are perhaps wise to be away from this part of the world at them present moment and stay in the warmth of the sun. Best wishes for 2014, Karl
Hi Karl, thanks for the reply. I am well at rhe moment thank tou, but there is no sun here in the UK!! 😄
I was hoping you were away from the worst of it and when not stormy here the days are very bright and sunny! In fact the South east of the UK is getting it much worse than here. I suppose when it doesn’t cause damage at least it blows away some of our cobwebs.Karl
Oh yes we have escaped the worst of it here, further north, but the sun is very fleeting! Last night was howling wind and rain. I am, however, practising equanimity; this weather is a good test! 😊