| Shortly after I turned forty it all fell apart. I developed | | | | nauseum. |
| an Autoimmune disorder and my body began to | | | | This is the way it's been for years until three months |
| attack itself, big time. The next years became a deluge | | | | ago when thankfully I became the recipient of an iPod, |
| of Doctor's visits and countless medications. In time my | | | | thanks to my Brother making an upgrade to a larger |
| spirit withered with my health and it wasn't long before | | | | one. So I loaded it up with music, plugged in the |
| depression set in. | | | | headphones and went for a nice, long, walk. It was |
| A close friend suggested that I give meditation a try. If | | | | wonderful, relaxing and invigorating all at the same time, |
| you knew me you'd know just how difficult this idea | | | | the music keeping perfect synch with my footsteps |
| was to swallow, but I was getting desperate and | | | | and breathing. As I was trying to find the perfect word |
| decided to reluctantly agreed to give it a shot. | | | | to describe it, then it hit me...Meditative! |
| It's been over five years now and sometimes I feel like | | | | Traditionalists certainly wouldn't call this textbook |
| I still don't get this whole meditation thing. Sure it | | | | meditation by any stretch of the imagination but it was |
| sounded simple enough in theory and principle, but | | | | certainly what I needed, what I'd been searching for, |
| practice, well...that's another situation entirely. | | | | for all those years. Who would've figured that an old |
| OK, let's see just what I'm doing wrong here? | | | | pair of Nike Cortez sneakers and a loop of "one hit |
| I draw the blinds, close the bedroom door, light my | | | | wonder's" from the 1980's, would finally give me peace |
| "higher awareness" candle then put on the "Ten Steps | | | | of mind. since then I've added a number of more |
| to Deeper Mediation CD. Plopping myself down | | | | traditional meditation programs and tracks to the iPod |
| cross-legged on my (Zafu) meditation cushion I touch | | | | and haven't missed a day of walking since I started. |
| my index fingers to thumbs and then, then - nothing. | | | | Aside from the obvious mental benefits, I've lost ten |
| I can't shut my mind off no matter how hard I try and | | | | pounds, my high blood sugar has dropped considerably |
| all of a sudden it's important to remember when I got | | | | and I eliminated gluten and wheat based products from |
| my last oil change, if this years a leap year or the | | | | my diet. I now find myself more patient, relaxed and |
| name of the kid who bullied me in forth grade. Experts | | | | centered on a daily basis and my friends and children |
| tell you not to fight it and just let the thoughts go and | | | | have noticed the difference too. |
| eventually peace and enlightenment will be mine, but I | | | | So if you're like me I highly recommend this form of |
| got to tell you, I'm not buying it. | | | | relaxation, especially if you're having trouble with the |
| I've tried changing rooms, candles, cushions, CD's and | | | | more traditional forms of meditation. Well, it looks like |
| still nothing. I get into position, the music begins and so | | | | this will be the closest I get to achieving total |
| do the distractions. Is the stove on? Is the cat in? Do I | | | | enlightenment in this lifetime...and that's alright with me. |
| have enough milk for breakfast tomorrow? - ad | | | | |