Meditation

I started a mediation class last night at Breast Cancer Action. At the end of the evening the instructor had us watch 3 feathers float to the ground, listen to three bells and then write about it.

For some participants the feathers and ringing were symbolic, or reminded them of other experiences they had had in the past. I simply focused on seeing and listening without feeling the need to analyze the experience to death.

I spent so many of my earlier years analyzing my experiences, my relationships, searching for meaning, asking WHY? It feels good just to live in the moment and just BE.

Meditation Procrastination

Before Christmas I wrote about making a commitment to focus part of my day on self-care. Here is the schedule I set for myself:

9:00-9:30 yoga stretches

9:30-10:00 meditation

10:00-11:00 plan food for the day, cook, juice

11:00-12:00 walk (or some other form of exercise)

I’ve been good at planning my food (although I’ve abandoned the juicing for now) and I try to get some form of exercise every day (today I walked for 40 minutes). The stretching has been hit-and-miss.

Where I’ve really dropped the ball is meditation. I know that it is one of the best things I can do for myself. In addition to the benefits to your mental health, many experts claim that meditation can play an important role in cancer recovery. It enhances the immune system and increases the activity of ‘natural-killer cells’, which kill cancer cells.

So why do I procrastinate and go for days without doing it? (There are lots of websites on the net that offer meditations for procrastination, but of course you have to get to the meditation first. See my dilemma?)

I think it needs to become a habit, just like brushing your teeth. Tomorrow I’m going to try meditating before I go downstairs for breakfast. If anyone has any other suggestions, I’d welcome them.