When I realized that I had begun to take this gift for granted, I chastised myself.  All the years of well-practiced self-flagellation made it easy to slip into the negative voice in my head.  I hate that voice.  Sometimes, though, no matter how hard you try, the voice doesn’t quiet easily.   I have discovered, however, that if you allow yourself to be loved, the negative voice becomes dimmer and the voice you hear inside yourself is instead one more gentle and encouraging.

Today, I was feeling confident enough in myself to give myself the gift of peace.  I wasn’t looking to simply go through the motions, but to find that space where mediation is truly a part of your being.   I sat on the floor of my office next to the dog.  She loves for me to work in my office as it means she can nap in front of the sofa there.   I began breathing deeply and soon realized that my body was timing one deep inhalation and  exhalation with two of her breaths.  As I found the rhythm, within moments I had found my center.     I breathed and focused on the energies in my body, slowing moving energy from the tips of my fingers and toes to my chi and gently holding the energies.    And then I found it.  That perfect imperfect moment where the world around me disappears and there is nothing but energy and breath.

Like art, no two people will mediate the same.  But also like art, it is often about the process.  I’m thankful that the process once again feels not foreign, but like a part of me.

Happy Wednesday!