If you have been thinking about a meditation practice….hmm, thinking about meditating…..and wondering if you want to know more….”10% Happier” by Dan Harris is a good read. Dan is a TV journalist – Nightline, GMA, 20/20 – and he sprinkles this tale of his journey to mindfulness with anecdotes of well-known public figures from broadcast news. His profession provided an opportunity to meet with some of the most respected professionals in the “field” of meditation and spirituality. He may get a bit self-congratulatory but I appreciated this: ” The act of simply feeling the breath breaks the habits of a lifetime. For those short snatches of time when you are focused on the rise and fall of the abdomen or the cool air entering and exiting the nostrils, the ego is muzzled. You are not thinking, you are being mindful – an innate but underused ability we all have, which allows us to be aware without judging.”
Tea time
The Republic of Tea embraces the ancient Chinese philosophy of Ta shun – the Great Harmony. Ta shun is alive when people naturally care about the world and depend on one another for the well-being of the whole. It manifests itself in collective concern and the aspiration to seek opportunities, initiatives and actions that will better the conditions of both humans and the planet. In short, to provide good works, render goodwill.
Go for a Walk!
A reward awaits each time you venture out the door. Sometimes the reward is as obvious as the sweet, tart indulgence of a ripe raspberry. Sometimes the reward is more subtle and arrives as the glimpse of a hawk in the sky, or the scent of autumn on the breeze. Mother Nature offers endless opportunities to awaken your senses, so step outside, stand tall, and breathe deeply. Go for a walk and claim your reward!