31 days.. day 22

Day 22: Meditate (yes you can!)

This is a habit that I've totally fallen out of. And I hate that because I am all too aware of it's benefits.

For me, meditation is not just something yogis do, as the article alludes to. And it's not just about making my mind go blank and checking out. It's about digging into the most inner parts of me, finding my center, and finding my peace. It's not spiritual in a religious sense, but it is spiritual in the way that it allows me to connect with my soul, which is what makes me, me.

I first learned to meditate when I was in the sixth grade. Granted, it was part of our "cool down" in a dance class, and I didn't know it was meditation at the time. But looking back, it clearly was - we would lay on our backs, lights off, and our teacher would walk us through each body part in our minds, starting with our toes and working our way up to the top of our heads. She would guide us to focus on each part, one at a time, and release the tension that part held. It never seemed strange to me that I could actually feel the energy moving through my body. The best way I can describe it is a warm, tingling sensation. I never felt more relaxed or grounded than after those cool downs.

It wasn't until high school when I discovered what we Americans think of as yoga (mainly postures and poses) that I learned more about meditation and began to pursue it on a daily basis. Yoga was never about sweating and getting a good workout; it was always about that deeper connection, and meditation was my vehicle. Even if it was only for 10 minutes a day, it would help me hit the reset button. And it helped me to get through some of my hardest times.


As I look ahead to my job starting tomorrow, and the new life that awaits me in Denver, it's a good reminder that I need to restart my practice. After several months of feeling aimless and more uncertain than I ever have in my life, I hope that I can tap into that always present source of stability to give me back my inner peace.