“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you” ~Nathaniel Hawthorne
JUST sitting. JUST breathing. JUST living.
Once we get seated, and notice that we are breathing, we can start living. Really living. In the moment…this moment. Not rushing through life like a car in the fast lane. Not spinning out, not retreating, just sitting and breathing.
For today’s meditation I’m going to ask you to keep your eyes open. So you’ll be able to do this one sitting in your car, sitting on the edge of your bed, sitting in a busy public place, sitting with someone next to you. Just sitting. Just breathing.
No screen, no book, no conversation. Find a seat, check in with your breath, and give yourself the wonderful gift of just sitting and watching life around you. Check into all of your senses.
First, what do you see? Look around and let your eyes take all of it in. Then, slowly let your eyes settle on one thing. One thing that holds your interest. See it. Look at it with new eyes. What do you notice?
Now, what do you hear? Tune into the sounds around you. Look for more subtle sounds. The sound of the refrigerator humming. The sound of the dog licking his paws. The sound of laughter in the distance. The sound of your breath.
Then shift your attention to physical sensations. Is there a taste in your mouth? Can you smell anything? What is the temperature of the air on your skin? Where is clothing touching you? Where does your body feel pain? Where does your body feel ease?
Noticing all of it. JUST sitting. JUST breathing.
Isn’t it simple? Isn’t it miraculous?
And now the practice of yoga begins…
Namaste.
*Photo by Nine Köpfer on Unsplash
