team is working today, what if they have an issue and need my help?” and then “maybe I should reschedule”Oh that’s right, I was working myself into a real potential procrastinating tizzy. I decided to stop thinking about it until later. Besides, I needed to get ready for Sister Skype with Katy and Debbie.
We had so much to talk about. There was an agenda, action items to review
and next steps to define. If I haven’t said this lately, let me say now, again. I adore my sisters. Spending time with them, even on Skype, is so rewarding. I’m awash with a sense of renewed vigor towards what we’re doing and especially doing it with them. However, we ran a little long, further playing into my urge to reschedule my disconnection plan. Initially, the plan for the morning –
Breakfast, Sister Skype, dog park, lunch, 2 hour disconnect. So now I had to choose between dog park and lunch. Is it wrong I chose lunch? I shared my lunch with the dogs to make up for delayed dog park. They didn’t seem
too upset.
It’s 12:45 and guess what happens? My phone blows up. Three work emails and one emergency IT helpdesk call. Seriously, I’ve had the emergency line for the last 4 weeks and this was the first Sunday call in forever. But even with that I’m still in and proceed down stairs. The dogs follow and I survey the room for the perfect place to sit. Everything I’ve read about meditating says to make yourself comfortable. I’m pulled towards the bed but decide meditating on the bed may morph into a nap. Although, a nap does sound wonderful, it wasn’t what I was setting out to do. In the corner of the room sat my Kindle, plugged in. I unplug it and power it down – easy. Next - one last thorough scan of my multiple email accounts. Then- the power down. My work phone
first. I wait until my blackberry is completely powered down before turning my attention to my personal iphone. It was tougher than I imagined. Yes, I know it’s silly. If I were on a plane they’d be off but there was just something different when you’re not required to turn them off.
So phones are off, I look for the next most comfortable sitting place in the
room. The dog pillow. Oh, you don’t even know. It’s nice, faux mink, super soft, comfy and shaped like a large doughnut but with a soft padded center. It helps me sit with what I feel like is the perfect posture. Although, I admit, it would be very embarrassing to have someone see me sitting there. As I go to sit in it, which requires a little maneuvering, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, dust. I can’t start to meditate when I know there’s dust. So I dust. As I dust, I think
maybe I should, at least straighten the bed. Should I have vacuumed? My mind starts to reel. Suddenly a tap on the wind draws my attention to the wind blowing very hard outside. I watch the tree outside the window swaying back and forth. The motion reminds me of breathing and now I’m aware of the silence inside the room. OK, lets start again.
My favorite tip I read researching different methods of meditating was to stretch before meditating. The article explained the stretched muscles absorb oxygen more efficiently thus making the deep breathing associated in meditation more effective in reaching a state of relaxation. I stretched. Then, I began the deep breathing intently focusing on my breath, especially how breathing in deeply seemed easier than breathing out deeply. Another technique I read about, was to concentrate on your body parts, starting at your toes.
Flexing them and relaxing them then moving up the body. Next your feet,
flex them up, around down, relax. Then your calves and so on. The meditator is instructed to also focus on each organ as you move up the body. My mind wandered. I started over. I focused on my toes and feet LOTS! After frustratingly mind wandering and restarting for what seemed like a zillion times, I believe I finally accomplished maybe a 10-15 minute peace of mind. I can’t say exactly how long because I usually use my phone to tell time.
I felt good, relaxed and so happy to have done this. In fact, I’ve decided to incorporate disconnecting on a regular basis. Maybe it won’t be two hour
blocks, though, but some amount of time on at least a weekly basis.
I’m even more motivated to pursue meditation. It was not perfect by any
means but that’s not the point. The point for me is to keep trying. Reminding me of a quote Debbie told me, which seems to be coming to mind more and more over recent weeks. Persistence not Perfection!
Sylvia