Values, Objectives and Results

I value love. I value light. I value momentum. I value patience. I value compassion. I value sustainable income. I value creativity. I value listening. I value happiness. I value effort. I value today.

My objective is to meditate. And here is a conversation with myself while settling into today's objective.

Objective: Sit in a comfortable position, hands interlaced resting at my belly, palms up, eyes closed. Spine straight from root to crown. Focus my awareness on the breath. Breathe in, slowly, lingering on the last inhale ever so slightly before starting to breathe out. Melting the tension in my neck and shoulders as I slow the patient exhale.

Me: Oh that feels good. So relaxing. I am lighter than ever. I feel loose. I wonder what that sound is? Is the radio still on? Are those water drops hitting the roof? Is that my hard drive? Is my hard drive going bad?

Objective: Listen to the sound. Smile at the sound. Don't analyze the sound. Let the sound be. Sound is like the wind. It is free. It moves. Do not try to control the sound. Focus your awareness on the breath.

Me: Breathing in. Slowly. I don't care what that sound is. It's probably the snow melting. I don't care. Hold the breath ever so lightly, now slowly breathe out. Relax the shoulders. Relax the tension in my sit muscles. Oh that feels good. Oh yes. I really need to get my act together. I should create a spreadsheet that 1) outlines my goals and 2) keeps track of my progress. Maybe weekly? Or monthly. I'm not sure. But ...

Objective: Really great thoughts. But let them go. Focus on the breath. Relax the tension in your eyes. Take a long, slow breath in. Hold it. Perfect. Now slowly breathe out while releasing all your tension. Your thoughts are tension. Let them go. Just sit comfortably and smile. Chakras aligned, shoulders loose, focusing your awareness on the breath.

Me: Wow. This seems to be working. It always seems to work. Now is not the time to do anything else but breathe in and out. Gloriously. Content with simply breathing. Oh.my.god. This feels amazing. I'll make sure to take my vitamins today. Pile the good on good. What a great day! I'll write a new blog post, gosh, I might even bang out my taxes. Bloody hell. I am on fire.

Objective: Focus your awareness on the breath. Just your breath. Simple in. Simple out. That's all you need to do.

Me: Copy that. Breathing in. Slowly. Breathing out. My tension melts away. No thoughts. No sounds. Just the wind.

The meditation lasted 15 minutes. By the end I was sitting comfortably, focusing my awareness on the breath. Along the way I had a few more random thoughts which I embraced, then I smiled and happily let them go. I heard footsteps on the sidewalk, a freight train, smells of curry. I was in the world but not judging it. I let everything go for 15 minutes, except for the breath.  

I feel lighter. I'm going to build that spreadsheet. Glad I waited. I love my friends. I'm going to apply for that photojournalism job. I'm going to take pictures and write stories. I'm grateful for meditation teachers. I'm not really sure what the day will bring but I am happy to be a part of it. And when my baby gets off work we are going to read William Carlos Williams, roast cauliflower and boogie.

Love, meditation & happiness. Got it.

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The Year in Review

I am grateful for sight.

When I first learned how to meditate I was instructed to keep my eyes open. But this was because I was trained by a kung fu master. In case of an attack. Master wanted me to be ready at all times, even in repose. So I kept my eyes open. But just barely. These little slits of light caffeinated my awareness and protected me from danger allowing the other part of me to rest. The part behind the eyes. My hope, my soul, my love. This part needed care. I was not trained to fight. I was trained to be compassionate. I was taught to protect compassion. As Master would say, "Concentrate your mind. Relax all of your body." Each awakened step is a mixture of perception and detachment.

I walk through the world knowingly.

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Fast Food Meditation

I love Facebook! Please let me explain.

As someone who has practiced meditation for decades, I am constantly seeking new ways to improve the efficiency of my training. And thanks to Facebook I have discovered fast food meditation!

In this wonderful season of giving it would be an honor to share this technique with you.

Step 1: Log in to your Facebook. Most of you can skip this step because you are probably already logged on. I realize nobody logs out of Facebook but I have to add this step just in case.

Step 2: Go to your news feed. To eliminate any confusion, your news feed is also your home page. Because Facebook is home.

Step 3: Before reading the first post on your newsfeed, please close your eyes and think of something that makes you happy. Isn't it wonderful, this feeling inside.

Step 4: Open your eyes.

Step 5: Read the first post on your news feed. If you have read the first post and you are still happy, read the next post. Continue this process until your happiness fades. When you are no longer happy close your eyes again.

Step 6: Think of something that makes you happy.

There you have it. Fast food meditation. You can practice this technique whenever you like, wherever you like. It is always available.

Please join me next week when I discuss why 6 is an auspicious number.

Happy holidays!

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