(11/1) Daily Practice

Last Week Total: 67,673

Practice 18: Monday (10/26)

3,585 dots - 20 minutes

I've started to become more aware of the sound that the tip of the pen makes as it comes in contact with the paper.  There's actually two separate sounds.  The louder portion is because of the drawing board behind the paper.  But another sounds comes from the paper itself.  It's much more subtle.  Even when I'm concentrated on the counting I heard it--or maybe--because I was concentrating on the counting, I heard it.

Practice 19: Tuesday (10/27)

4,467 dots - 20 minutes

I've recently found it easier to let go of the inherent "goal" of completing the project--or even completing sections.  I can no center myself around just "doing" without the worry of "doing something."  I've also found that the more I can bring myself back to the counting, the more dots I create in the allotted time.  I made around 900 more dots than yesterday in the same timeframe--but I don't feel a sense of accomplishment.  That's good, I think.  I believe I won't feel a sense of failure if tomorrow I make less.

Practice 20:  Wednesday (10/28)

3,697 dots - 20 minutes

During these long periods of concentration, I've found that if I've truly drifted away from the counting of the dots, It's been for a significant amount of time.  By "significant"--I mean surprising.  When I realize that my mind has been on something else, I feel like its been there for at least several minutes.  It must be some very slow subconscious process.  I feel like I begin thinking about something, but have no realization that I'm giving it attention.  As it builds, I still stay oblivious.  Only after it consumes my main concentration do I actually take note of this.  I wonder how I could do the reverse?  Make my mind unintentionally wrap itself around the counting. 

Practice 21:  Thursday (10/29)

3,523 dots - 20 minutes

My roommate had his TV on during my practice session, and as usual, I accept the challenge of added distractions.  The main program he watches I can tune out of my head, and I seem to have no additional distractions from my normal round of daily practice.  However, once commercials come on, It's near impossible to concentrate.  I never noticed how the voices of advertisement personal are so annoying.  It seems like the volume of the TV gets louder during the commercial breaks. 

Practice 22: Saturday (10/31)  

4,073 dots - 20 min.

I don't believe I've concentrated solely on the numbers for more than 10 seconds during any of my daily practices.  The tangents come so frequent that it would be nearly impossible to document them all.  Most of the interrupting thoughts only last fractions of a second before they are pushed away by the competition of the numbers.  It would be interesting if one could get into a mindset where they can subconsciously turn off this function of the mind.   

Practice 23: Sunday (11/1)

4,574 dots - 20 min

I think the number of dots I can complete in the allotted time is very deceptive.  It really has little correlation with how much I am concentrating on the counting.  Doing certain sections of the drawing yield a higher dot count/concentration--which results in faster dotting.  Where as lighter sections need to be done more carefully.  It would be interesting to observe if doing a darker or lighter section determined the intensity of my concentration.  Maybe certain sections of the face will keep me more engaged with the counting and less likely to drift off.  

Total Dots: 91, 592 dots