Today marks 500 consecutive days of meditation.
Holy cow.
I remember being excited about one full year . . . but 500 days???? I never thought I’d stick with meditation this long.
Has it been 100% blissful? No.
Has each meditation been wonderful? Absolutely not. There have been a few that ended with me feeling sweaty and itchy and I couldn’t wait for it to end.
Have I been completely still, eyes closed, in my favorite comfy chair for every session? Nope. Sometimes my meditation has been a silent walk. Some have been quiet journaling. More than a few have been spent staring into space – or a roaring fire. And a few of them have been sitting in exhaustion, tears trickling down my cheeks.
Has meditating every day taught me some valuable lessons? You betcha. The good, the bad, the itchy-twitchy, the sad, the angry, the what-in-the-world-do-I-do-now, and everything in between has taught me something about myself. I’ve learned what I’m capable of, what I will no longer tolerate, how to sit with my emotions without trying to ‘fix’ things, how to forgive myself (a little), and how to approach the world and others around me with as much love and kindness as I can muster at that moment.
Meditation doesn’t have to be sitting like a pretzel, chanting or humming, and looking like some ethereal being in a constant state of peace. Wouldn’t that be nice, though? LOL No, meditation can be done sitting, standing, walking, running, riding a bike, crocheting, knitting, painting, throwing pottery, doing a puzzle, woodworking, writing, drifting to sleep to healing sounds, ad nauseam. In my opinion, meditation is anything that helps you to calm down, regulate your breathing, and focus your mind on a single purpose. That can be so many different things to so many different people.
I urge you to find your form of meditation. Make time for it. Tell others that you’re going to be doing that thing for a while and you’ll be back later. (I sometimes tell my husband that I’m going to ‘disappear’ for a while and he knows that I need to be left undisturbed.) It’s become part of the routine and he respects it. Find your meditation. Sit with it, even when it’s difficult. Keep doing it. It will become a habit – one that will open your eyes, your world, and your heart – if you’re willing to listen.
Namaste.
The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.
