Take 10 Minutes to Get Started with Lessons I've Learned From Meditating Consistently For Over a Year a

I am much more patient than I used to be.  I grew up in Western New York, but strangers often assumed I was from New York City.  If you can picture those Manhattanites during morning rush hour trying to catch that train within 10 seconds of it fleeing from the station, I used to function like them without even living there!  That’s because I was high strung, quick to get things done, and always in a rush. I used to pride myself on this way of life, as it allowed me to be efficient and productive at and outside of work.  

I had always been stressed out, anxious, and a hyper planner.  This was just how I was. I did not love that part of myself, but it seemed manageable and often helpful.  However, when I became a mother, the tasks and responsibilities grew and became much more complex. My stress level skyrocketed and I was not feeling good anymore.  I knew I had to make some serious changes in order to be present for my husband and son. I read a lot about stress reduction and decided to give mindfulness meditation a try.

At first, I would sit for two or three minutes and get through it.  Over time, two or three minutes turned into twenty or sixty and I could do this relatively peacefully.  Eventually, I found myself looking forward to just sitting and slowing down. Meditation allowed me to take time for myself and to escape from the default swirl of chaos in my head.

Eventually, I found that I was able to sit with, perhaps tolerate, negative feelings.  Feelings of anger or anxiety became less of an enemy and more like houseguests. I accept anger and frustration when they arise.  Instead of rejecting them and wanting them to go away, I allow myself to really feel them-not overly so, but just let them be. This practice helps the negative feelings to dissipate a lot faster than if I treat them as an intruder.  

Waiting in line at the grocery store or a traffic light when I’m running late, I now stay calm and relaxed.  This is a shocking change from the person I once was. I feel less aggravated, irritated, and agitated. This is a convenient side effect of meditation.  If I do find myself in a heightened state, I feel my body and stay in the present moment while taking a few deep breaths. This keeps me centered. Meditation has also made me more aware of my body, which most of the time we forget is there, and my hitherto mundane surroundings.  I notice the bright beautiful sky or winter’s bare trees or the warmth of my morning shower. Subsequently, I am able to really soak in and savor my life. Thank you, mindfulness.