Sitting quietly,
doing nothing.
Spring comes,
and the grass grows
by itself.
-Basho
Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) was one of the greatest Japanese poets. He elevated haiku to the level of serious poetry in numerous anthologies and travel diaries. Years ago when I started a new office job in San Francisco, I arrived to find my desk completely cleaned and organized, a blank slate waiting for me to claim it. The only thing my predecessor left behind was this simple poem on a small yellow stickie note pinned to the wall. I left it there the five years I worked in that space and it served as a constant reminder to be fully present and to let go at the same time.