As I mentioned last week I finally got around to lacing up my New Balance and get back on the workout wagon after being kicked in the ass by the flu. And in doing so, I’ve added challenging goals to help me get back in good Guat health condition. This includes roller derby class, which is not only a massive quad and butt workout, but also scary as hell. And then there’s my big American Lung Association Climb coming up. But I thought I’d also embark on another challenge. Something that’s supposed to balance out my entire body, because you know me … I need balance.
Meditation.
For the next 21 days I’ll be participating in a meditation challenge to try to improve my whole wellness — body, mind, and spirit. I’m challenging my body in all sorts of ways that require BenGay, why not challenge my mind, right? I mean I got Advil if necessary.
Meditation … that’s one of those hey-that-looks-easy experiences, but it’s really not.
Image via loveofmantrameditation.com
I see it happen on television and movies. They sit there, in their kindergarten style cross-legged position, with their fingers doing that circle thing, listening to weird New Age Music that’s composed mostly of wind instruments with names I can’t even pronounce. They look like they have peace and stillness, but they’re actors. They’re just pretending to be centered and balanced.
I can pretend to be too, but for the sake of this challenge I’m supposed to be serious and tap into that peaceful side of the Guat. I’m supposed to empty my mind of all thoughts and worry. I don’t know if I can empty my mind for more than five seconds. I might get bored with empty. I think too much. I talk too much. I’m a writer … it happens.
But don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind sitting on the beach, hearing the sounds of the waves and just relaxing. I don’t mind hanging out by myself in the late hours of the night when everyone is asleep, reflecting on my day and being surrounded by a nice quiet, not the creepy Hitchcock kind of quiet, the nice kind which is usually accompanied by tea. I don’t mind that. But apparently that’s not meditating. I was schooled.
I’m not a big meditating person. It seems a little difficult for me, freeing my mind of thought. I thought I did that while I was asleep, but apparently I don’t, which is why my friend sent me that 21-day Meditation Challenge email. So I thought why not, what have I got to lose? Fifteen minutes every day for 21 days, I can do this. I can have an Elizabeth Gilbert Eat, Pray Love moment without boarding a plane to India or Bali.
I may wind up more relaxed, more balanced, more at peace and less likely to get all George Costanza on somebody when they piss me off, but then again nothing may change and I might just enjoy the quiet of the night without the repetitions of a mantra, without the OOOOOOMMMMMs, without the New Age music. I might realize that a good piece of chocolate, my DVR, and some quiet is all I really need. Don’t know. But I’ll find out.
The Wish Factor 
I just decided I wanted to try meditating again… what is this 21 day challenge, challenge is it an online thing?! Good luck…
Yeah it’s an online thing. She sent me the link if you want try it out here it is …
http://www.chopracentermeditation.com/bestsellers/LandingPage.aspx?BookId=178
Good luck. It isn’t hard for me to empty my head, not much in there to begin with.
Ha! You’re too funny. Thanks for the luck I’ll let you know if I have any moments of Enlightenment.
All for the chocolate and quiet time!
Yes quiet time and chocolate are always a good combination … always 🙂 Glad someone agrees.
At what point do you start chanting “Serenity Now” like a certain George (or Frank) Constanza?
OH MY GOD! I do that all the time and I crack myself up after the anger is gone. Ahhhh crazy Costanza.
First, I love the Seinfeld reference. 🙂 Second, I meditate often, or at least I try to. It is my goal to be like Elizabeth Gilbert, although I wish I could be her as Julia Roberts and really be in Italy cozying up to that gelato, but dreams are dreams. Haha! For now I settle for South Florida, which isn’t a bad deal but it is rather boring when you actually live here. Not much serenity going on. I find that using a mala is helpful for me so that I can count the mantras but everyone has to find their own path with meditation. It’s really such a personal thing. Good luck with the challenge!
HA! I always love it when people get me … Seinfeld he’s awesome. Duuuuuuuuuuude It is so my goal to be like Julia Roberts in Bali all Zen-like in front of her college smiling in her liver. 🙂 South Florida … not too bad. It’s been four days and so far I’m all right. My thoughts keep getting in the way of my emptying out my brain, but I’m working on it. 🙂
I’m not a meditating kind of person at all. I’m always busy, and when I find time to sit down, I either read or blog. 🙂 Good luck with finding the quiet space……. not easy when you have small children. 😯
I love your little stressed out happy face guy … too funny. Yes it’s hard with two kids, so I can never do it in the morning which they said is ideal. I do it at night say … midnight-ish. Everyone is quiet.
Hm, a 21-day 15 minute challenge to find inner peace? That might be a nice habit to keep doing for the long haul Guat.
Dude I am so trying to keep this rolling. It’s hard to empty my brain, but I do get a few Zen like moments, which is nice. It’s been four days and so far I haven’t had many SERENITY NOW! moments so it must be working it’s magic little by little. I may definitely keep this going if the challenge goes well. Two kids? I definitely need this inner peace habit.
“Meditation is a lot more affordable than a fifty minute hour with a therapist,” said the New Yorker.
Duuuuuuuuuude. I love that quote. m writer poor so it works out for me. 🙂 I may have to use it in my meditation recap when it’s all done.
Go for it!
I need to folllow suit, especially this week!
Sending you some peaceful vibes, my friend.