Shanti shanti shanti

The other day, I wrote about the myriad of benefits I’ve experienced by jumping into the frigid ocean every morning.

But great things also come from doing just the opposite - meditating.

Now, I’m sure many of you know all about the positive effects of meditation - lower stress, calmer and clearer thinking, and more.

My journey to meditation was not a smooth one.

I struggled with the act of meditation for years. I tried recordings, apps, you name it - but I found sitting still and being totally quiet impossible.

Well, as I am wont to do, I took extreme measures.

I went on a silent retreat for five days. 120 hours of no speaking - just calmness… meditation… and peace.

And it stuck.

I now meditate every day, sometimes sitting in silence in the early morning, sometimes guided by an app.

But I also meditate in less formal ways - something I call “snap meditation.”

It can just be a few seconds of calmness and centering when I feel the stress start to rise - whether I’m in the car, waiting at a long security line at the airport, or on hold with the cable company.

To the outside world, this snap meditation isn’t apparent - they just see a calm exterior that is responding to events… instead of reacting.

My clients notice it too.

In fact, some of them call me an old, wise monk. I really like that nickname - and not just because my smooth skull matches the description.

I appreciate it because I know that if I’m calmer, I can bring some of that stillness to them in the midst of their stressful jobs.

Namaste.

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