And Now Back to Our Regular Programming-Mantra Thursday

If you live on the East Coast, you'll understand when I say, this winter has been a real stage five clinger (did you see the movie Wedding Crashers?). Winter this year feels like the clingy, needy girlfriend/boyfriend who calls incessantly and doesn't know when it has overstayed it's welcome. If I could talk to winter, I'd say, "I've been thinking...I think we need a break for a while. It's not you, it's me."

Anyway, while Monday was four days ago, I am finally feeling more like myself (no thanks to winter) and do have a mantra to pass on.

A few years ago, like six million others, I read Elizabeth Gilbert's bestselling memoir, Eat, Pray, Love. Dog-eard, highlighted and with marked up margins, my copy sits on my desk for easy reference still, several years later.

Many of Elizabeth's reflections moved me but one of those that really stayed with me was:

No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

-Taoist Proverb

If memory serves me, Elizabeth shared this wisdom in regard to her meditation practice. This adage is indisputable but getting people to slow down long enough to make out what they see, it another story.

Oh, yes,-yes, I am. I am speaking about myself.

I have three older brothers, who were 14, 17 and 19 years old when my twin sister and I were born. My brothers are children of the sixties and encouraged my parents to eliminate artificial colors and flavors from our diets, avoid any meats with nitrates and meditate.

My oldest brother embraced the practice of transcendental meditation and began initiating neighbors, friends and family into the practice as well when I was only six years old, including me.

We learned at the young age to use our "word" and looking back I am so grateful for such an early introduction into an ancient valuable practice.

But I'd be lying if I told you, I've been faithful over the years. My meditation practice lives a parallel existence to my prayer life. When a crisis sets in I go running to God, full of excuses for my absences Mondays through Saturdays offering some half-cocked bargain in exchange for crises averted.

Meditation is something I wish I did more faithfully. Prayer along with meditation are my "go to guys" when life's serves up a crisis or worry but as a regular practice, ummm...I need-practice.

Good thing I have someone like my Bird (my husband) who often provides the ultimatum I need. "Steph, meditate or medicate."

Yikes. I meditate. On the days I haven't reigned myself in on my own, The Bird's mandate does it for me.

In my meditation, I learn to simply be an observer of my thoughts and feelings, without getting attached. Attachment is where the "trouble" sneaks in. Emotions are nothing more than thoughts added to sensations. Replace attachment with observation and emotions shift and answers come.

Sometimes I simply do a breath meditation (when I just follow my breath-not getting caught up in any thoughts, just simple, non-judgemental observations of it's flow), other times I do a guided meditation (Dr. Bernie Seigel's are terrific) and other times I go back to my TM practice I learned when I was only knee-high to a grasshopper. Some people are purists me, I'm more eclectic.

So here publicly, I am going to commit to a more regular practice. At least daily. It is Lent, a season of reflection and contemplation, an appropriate time to revisit my commitment. If Jesus could wander off to the desert for forty days, I think I can find 20 minutes a day to visit with my spirt and His.

So, yes, you really can't see your reflection in running water. The promise of personal movement is in the stillness.

As always, guys, thank you for stopping by. It makes me smile to see you here. So, what are you doing for Lent, anything, nothing? Do you meditate?

Stop by next week. I'm pretty sure I'll be here :-) I hope you will be too and if you liked this post, please pass it on to a friend or provide a Twitter link or even Facebook link to it. Let's spread the word!