Meditation

For as long as I can remember, in my adult life I've wanted to have a regular meditation practice.  Yet, it is just something that I have not been able to include in my daily life.  There are occasional times where I meditate, but I haven't gotten consistent with it.

About a month ago I purchased a book by Sharon Salzberg (at BJ's no less... odd place for it; but it works). The premise of the book is to help one begin a regular practice.  It is a four week program with different meditations to do each week.  The first week she encourages you to meditate three times during the week for 20 minutes.  I completed my first meditation this afternoon (thanks to Shawn for taking Juniper to the park so that I could have some quite time).

I found it hard to begin.  I had so many other thoughts of what I could be doing with my time.  I like to DO things, and just sitting in meditation in my mind is NOT DOING.  So, it is very hard just to begin.  But, Sharon says that - that itself is practice - beginning again and again.  And again.  So, it was a real success that I actually did it.  Whee!

Sharon also suggests starting a journal of your practice... and commenting at the end of the day how the day felt... then coming back each week to see how the week was in total.  Then, consider if the meditation had any impact.  I think that it will... as I have experienced it having a positive impact in my life before.

My plan for the week is to meditate in the evenings after dinner.  I should be able to squeeze in 20 minutes then... (and perhaps it is too much change in my life but I do hope to begin doing some exercise in the morning before Juni wakes up ... we'll see about that).

All this change is coming from my starting to realize that I actually have to DO something in order to live the life I want to live.  The life that just presents itself to me is a good one, but I think  that I could make it even better if I am more thoughtful about what I choose to do with my time.  For example, there are people in my life that I would like to spend more time with... so I should actually call them and arrange a time to get together, you know?

I am assuming that once I build these kinds of things more into my life the more it will more just naturally happen rather than me having to put the effort into it.   Or, maybe not.  At least it is worth the try.  Otherwise I will be angry with myself for not doing these things.

So, that's that.  Wish me well on my baby steps.