Meditation. I hear it's super important. Really good for you. Right up there with exercising-and-eating-right good for you. Listen, I know some people have real problems, but between the nine weddings we're juggling this summer (including our own), a few drives across the entire state of Wisconsin and just our regular lives, things have felt hectic.
I wanted more calm. Hence, meditation.
My goal: 30 days of mediating at least once a day for 10 minutes. Seemed pretty straight forward and this guy made is sound essential in his TED talk. Of course, I had zero idea of how to do it. But that's what the Internet is for!
Armed with the Simply Being app, a candle and a comfy place to relax, I was ready to do this thing!
Day One (Tuesday)
I rolled out of bed at 6:15 am, threw on a pair of sweats and a hoodie and headed for my newly beautified porch. I put in my headphones and queued up the Simple Being app. Some new-agey music softly played as a woman with a calm voice lazily stated:
Let's begin by finding a comfortable position.
It sounded more like "lesssbegin by finding a comfortable position." I decided to sit with my legs out straight, back propped up on some pillows.
Now close your eyes. This is a time to simply..... be.
Let go of whatever you think you have to do...
Simply be aware of your surroundings.
Hmmm... birds chirping, car whizzing by, a light breeze. I am so aware.
Your mind may be very busy with thoughts. It doesn't matter. Thoughts come into the mind spontaneously. Let them go the way they come.
Thoughts about breakfast, coffee, why that bird is so damn loud... my mind was very busy with thoughts. At first, it was easy to let them go. But next thing you know, I realized I was doing the math on how many Simply Being apps would have to be sold for the whole thing to be profitable. Next thing you know, ten minutes had flown by. I felt okay.
Day Two (Wednesday)
Woke up at the same time and did the exact same steps. This time, I realized the Simply Being voice sounds exactly like Tig Notaro. I felt the urge to mock the Simply Being woman.
Day Three (Thursday)
In the hopes of not mocking fake Tig Notaro, I downloaded new app (Meditation). It ended up being the same woman's voice (!), but with more variety. The morning session was okay. Later in the day, I had a stressful moment at work and tuned into a seven minute meditation session. It actually helped a lot.
Day Four (Friday)
Did my morning thingamagig, but felt apathetic about it.
Day Five (Saturday)
Josh and I were visiting his parents in eastern Wiscossin. I wasn't going to let this change of venue deter me from meditation! I took a seat out on the deck at 7 am and popped in my headphones. Tig started talking. I was just getting into it, when I suddenly "became aware" that Josh's dad was watching me from the kitchen. I was embarrassed, panicked and quit.
Day Six (Sunday)
Skipped due to previous day's weirdness.
Day 7 (Monday)
Had a lot of anxiety about my morning meditation, but did it anyway. Feeling really bad about the fact that doing nothing for 10 minutes is actually making me more anxious.
Day 8,9 & 10 (Tuesday - Thursday)
Still feeling anxious. I loathe getting out of bed in the morning because I don't want to do this anymore. By Thursday, I decide I am probably not doing it right. I think I need some guidance in the form of an actual person, not just some app I got on iTunes for $0.99. I quit.
I stopped 30 full days short of my 30 day goal. BUT I am willing to give it another go, I just need some assistance!
Can you help me?
Are you all into meditation? How did you start? Any advice for a newbie? Is there a place in the Twin Cities than can help me learn? Is there such thing as a walking meditation (where I get to walk)? That just seems like it'd be way up my alley.
Please leave your words of wisdom (heavy on the "om") in the comments. OR email me at heyeleanorproject@gmail.com.
With your help, I will learn to do nothing!