Knots in your stomach, angst in your head

Try this the next time you have any anxiety and repeat it daily; it takes ten minutes and it will change your life. It's called Mindfulness Meditation.

Sit in a chair or upon a Zafu (a cushion, like a pillow for meditating). Close your eyes and focus soley on your out in and out breaths. YOu may say a gatha (short verse) like breathing in I am calm; breathing out I release all concerns all anxiety. or simply focus on your breath. When a thought comes acknowledge it but let it go; like the water in a stream.

In the Buddhist tradition and in Contemplative Psychotherapy training, we nurture mindfulness through the practice of sitting meditation. There are many different kinds of meditation. For example, some are designed to help us relax; others are meant to produce altered states of consciousness.

Mindfulness meditation is unique in that it is not directed toward getting us to be different from how we already are. Instead, it helps us become aware of what is already true moment by moment. We could say that it teaches us how to be unconditionally present; that is, it helps us be present with whatever is happening, no matter what it is.

    You may wonder what good that is. After all, don't we want to suffer less? Aren't we interested in tuning in to this natural wisdom, this brilliant sanity, that we've heard about? Aren't those changes from how we already are?

Well, yes and no. On the one hand, suffering less and being more aware of our inherent wakefulness would be changes from how we experience ourselves right now, or at least most of the time. On the other hand, though, the way to uncover brilliant sanity and to alleviate suffering is by going more deeply into the present moment and into ourselves as we already are, not by trying to change what is already going on.
The sitting practice of mindfulness meditation gives us exactly this opportunity to become more present with ourselves just as we are. This, in turn, shows us glimpses of our inherent wisdom and teaches us how to stop perpetuating the unnecessary suffering that results from trying to escape the discomfort, and even pain, we inevitably experience as a consequence of simply being alive.

What does it take to be Compassionate? A Paradigm Shift.

Walking down the street during the midday rush, people are everywhere.  I notice that some passerby’s meet my eyes, some look down or have placed their attention elsewhere.  Understanding genetics, every person has different face, we know this is so, yet, it’s still rather amazing that no one face looks alike. In a mixed crowd, they are Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, bi-racial. Their old, young, and middle-aged.  Among the crowds there are ideal beauties within the range of healthy weight, others too thin, some corpulent; others are obviously homeless, pushing their carts full of wrinkled clothing and odd, inconspicuous belongings. It's sill, but, sometimes, I play a game trying to decide what the person drives or what they're like: happy, sad, generous, stingy, rich, poor, married, single, just by looking at them. Though, overall, I practice looking at everyone as having a uniform character and an equal nature. 

 I practice viewing everyone as a suffering human being; this helps me practice to keep compassion at the forefront of my mind and my interactions. This is a practice because I have had times when I deem someone an inconsiderate ass, or worse;  this has happened plenty of times when I'm driving, for example, when I’ve been cut off and have to slam my brakes on.  I easliy have some choice words roll off my tongue! There are other times too; when someone doesn’t hold a door when they see me, or anyone else, right behind them-even with arms full- and they go ahead and let a heavy door swing back. They never think to hold the door open for one second. Yet, I do know, that once anyone is revealed, we can no longer be defined by our faces and sometimes even by an action. 

Paradigm shifts happen when more knowledge enters our perception. We wouldn’t lash out calling someone an ass if, for instance, we discovered that the person who cut us off just left a doctor’s office and just had bad diagnosis delivered. Or, if we knew, the person who didn’t hold a door was distracted because they just lost their job. With a little information compassion takes the lead in our interactions and judgments’. Truly, all humans are suffering because of their humanness; we all have something that is in our lives, on our minds, that is distressing.

Therefore, a face does not tell someone’s story and a single unthoughtful or reckless action shouldn’t define anyone either.

NPR? Wow. I said, Can you Believe it !?

I did say, "I can't believe it.  This is fantastic!" I am happy. Thrilled. Honored. One of my essays was selected from thousands by NPR, for their This I Believe, programming. I got the letter yesterday. It's funny because I wrote the whole essay in September, last year, right after my Mom died, and it is approximately 1500 words. I was encouraged by a new writer friend of mine that said it was worth putting out there. She helped so much (Thanks Linda). So I decided to submit it. To meet their submission guidelines I had to chop it up significantly; only two paragraphs are in this essay. I also had to meet their theme: This I Believe. My original has nothing to do with a metaphor. Who cares?! They were impressed so I'm fine with it too! Lol. They posted it at <http://thisibelieve.org/essay/95239/> on their website and here's the link.

Please give feedback; I love it! Thanks.

11-11-11, A Binary Day- next one is on 1-1-2100

‎11-11-11; this is the long awaited date when prayers and meditation on the postive, will open energy channels that create an interconnectedness and lovingkindness that will embrace the globe. Many millions will manifest a -never before experienced- power through spiritual activities and thoughts. May you find time to sit, breathe and fill every moment of this day with beauty and hope.

Today's plans were rich with mindful activities design to nourish my being.  I know that the only thing anyone has to offer another human being, ever, is their own state of being. Each person needs to be at peace so they can offer that peace to each person they meet.

I took a mindful walk upon a labyrinth. Walking Meditation is best taken,  meant to be taken, with bare feet. My feet are bare, ready. 

A Meditative, Mindful walk is taken by taking slow, very, very, slow steps. One step, slowly, then another. When one first begins, you'll see you feel off balance like a child learning to walk for the first time. Wefeel unsure of our steps because we usually walk at a quicker pace. When walking Mindfully we feel connection to the Earth; we are aware and really feel the Earth under our feet. We think of our in and out breath and when thoughts come we acknowledge them but we let them go and  go back to focus on our breath. When taking a Mindful walk often one may repeat a universal mantra such as: I pray for a world where compassion and love reign with supreme importance-- or just focus on the natural, easy, natural rhythm of the breath.

Before my Mindful walk, I place objects of significance to me on a bench which I use to make an alter in front of the path to the Labyrinth. A six foot stone wall makes a waterfall which sprays and tumbles into a pool; its surrounded by vines clinging to berried trees. I lay mala beads, an amethst geode, alongside several other gems; malachite, citrine... a mediation bell.

I wrote.

The Altar

Objects, not to covet
but to consider.
Energy from meditation
places, memories, and prayer
are set before a Labyrinth.
 I will take mindful walking steps
creating thoughts of lovingkindness,
compassion and ideas to nourish all
souls.
The water is falling upon itself
beckoning a cleansing, a renewal,
playfulness that captures the spirit
of children laughing.  The tears of elders
who remember rich memories.
Assured not to reach 1-1-2100
yet they know there is another realm;
their hearts are joyous.
The dance of 1,1,1,1,1,1
is eternal and bright.

I began my mindful walk through the Labyrinth.
All Labyrinth walks end in its center.
I waited, one minute, for the clock to read 11:11.
I spoke to my higher power, My God, my Jesus,
Buddhas spirit. May we all be happy, May we live with ease...
Afterward, a short drive along beautiful Sanibel Island.
I savored a tasty lunch with a dear friend.
We sat on a gorgeous beach
and we took smiling pictures
of each other
and the beauty of our surroundings.

What a Glorious Day.

Work Excuse

I'm working so much lately
that I have no time to write.
Data entry all day
and nothing at night.
It's Sunday today
and I have canvas and paint
That's why my words here
are empty and faint.
Yet, I've explained
why my entries are lacking
here on my blog
which I'm attacking
with this very bad poem
because I'm a lackey.
Work isn't a choice;
its less money than I need.
I'd like to blog all day long
have an entry per day,
with practice
my writing surely
wouldn't be so frightening.
So that's my excuse
for not blogging away
I just don't have enough time
 in any of my days.
.