Et Cetera: Catching Up

So much
Is going on
That I’ve gotten behind
Once again,

Making up
For all the time
I got ahead
Of myself instead,

Faster and faster
I have to go,
Even though
I’d rather go slowly,

Surrounded by chatter now,
Trying to think,
Hounded by doubts,
About what’s the link,

Where’s the connection
Between practice and now,
When the to-do list is long
And I’m in a rush,

Getting involved
In busy activity,
Forgetting all about
Lightness and levity,

Pursuing my goals
Way to seriously,
Working away
And pushing furiously,

Scrambling to get
Somewhere else,
Then suddenly remembering
To check in with reality.