A Meditation Short About Moments During Bumpy Times

Sometimes for me it's easy to get caught up in how bumpy things are. How loss is so powerful, how things go wrong, how people aren't who I think they are (or should be).

Mindfulness has been a great friend to me in these times. It's the friend that whispers in my ear to look inside for what else is present: gratitude, optimism, amazement.

And it's the friend that reminds me to look up: at the trees, the red-tailed hawk who glides by my window, the people I love.

What is mindfulness if not those two reminders: to look in, and see everything; and to look up, and see everyone especially for those working in law?

Transcript

So let's sit.

Finding a comfortable posture,

Your posture,

Whatever most supports you right now.

Sensing into the body that is yours.

The breath that is flowing in and out.

All by itself.

And whatever measure of ease and wellbeing is present for you right now.

Maybe a sense of complete ease,

Being able to let go into this moment,

The breath,

Whatever sounds are in your environment or whatever sounds you can hear through my microphone,

If you hear the birds.

Maybe there's ease,

Maybe there's not ease.

Maybe there's tightness or tension or sadness or sorrow or fear or whatever,

Whatever is here.

Whatever friends have gathered to be here with you today.

Just seeing who's here.

Exploring the contours of each moment as it arises and passes away.

Not evaluating,

Not waiting for the better one to arise.

Just exploring what's here.

And as you're exploring what's here,

Maybe the more difficult or staticky thoughts or emotions are louder,

They're more prominent.

Also looking for moments of peace.

Moments of grace.

And also looking up whether eyes open or eyes closed and recollecting someone or something in your life that is amazing.

Or with eyes open,

Looking around your environment and noticing something you hadn't noticed before or that you have noticed many times.

That's inspiring.

Not instead of,

But just as another friend.

The friend of sorrow,

The friend of stress or fear or anger.

And also the hawk as a friend and the butterfly.

The photograph of my father or the photograph of your beloved.