Take Ourselves Less Seriously

This meditation in the spirit of my beloved aunt Dianne Neiman embraces laughter, absurdity, mischief, and joy as sacred pathways to presence. She understood that a smile can be a mantra, a joke can be a koan, and a bit of playful rebellion can awaken the soul. To meditate like Dianne is to welcome the unexpected, to hold life’s contradictions lightly, and to dance with the delightful absurdity of existence.

It is a practice of seeing humor as wisdom and joy as a birthright. Rather than striving for stillness, this meditation invites movement—of breath, of curiosity, of delight. In honoring Dianne, we close our eyes, take a deep breath, and remember that sometimes, the holiest thing we can do is simply laugh.

Reviews

Alon, that was such a nice meditation, I smiled when you talked about a scrunched up face. Life is so difficult ... we need to find our own joy and yes, to be playful and to smile at strangers.

I loved your collaboration on the new Megillat Esther. What a beautiful book! Kol HaKavod. 🧡🙏

Alon, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I knew Dianne years ago, when she lived in Minneapolis. We were both Jewish community professionals. I have followed you for years on insight timer, and have always appreciated your playfulness. I do recall that essence in her, as well. What an honor to her memory, to create and share this meditation. May her memory be for a blessing. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼