8/2/13 Being Present
No expectations; being present; simple but not easy. To be
still water in a world of noise and movement; to seek the spaces in between
action; to be open to another voice besides the one in my waking mind, simple
but not easy. There are many techniques for meditation, it doesn’t seem to
matter which one I use, so far meditation is the best way to be in the present
moment. As I sit emptying my mind of prerecorded thoughts, of exterior
influences like clothes; discomfort, noisy appliances, neighbors, birdsong,
traffic, a golden calm settles over me. The longer I can maintain my presence
in the moment the calmer I get. This sense of peace promotes joy as I go
through my day. Joy, a state of being that is new to me. Joy must be the absence
of worry, guilt, and shame, things that belong in the past or future. Not only
am I more joyful, I’m healthier in my body. Taking those few minutes to center
myself and calm my mind make such a profound difference in my day. I wonder why
I don’t do it every single day, but it’s a fairly new feeling, joy. More
familiar are regret and worry, so it’s no wonder that I slip so easily into
these thoughts and forget the more beneficial possibilities, possibilities that
require such a small amount of time and effort. Simple but not easy, change
requires action. Action brings results. Progress not perfection, it’s the way
of the human!
