Meditation: Headspace, Wind Down: Switching Off Length: 5 minutes Where: In Bed, Los Angeles How It Felt: Heavy
I had every intention of finally trying a walking meditation in the park yesterday. I don’t know why, but I’ve wanted to try it for a while. It’s been crazy hot this weekend, so I tried to wait until later in the day to get outside, but…it was still over 90 degrees.
So, I didn’t stick to the plan. First I wanted to walk in silence for a bit and let my brain work some stuff out. (Very helpful.) Then, Steve called and we ended up talking about everything for almost 45 minutes. Then I had to pee sooooo bad, and the regular bathrooms were occupied in a way city bathrooms are sometimes occupied, so I found myself on a mission to find the bathrooms on the north end of the park.
PSA: there are weird Jetson like bathrooms near the tennis courts in Noho park. A voice will talk to you and guide you through the experience. Don’t be alarmed! I was very alarmed. Also, only about half of the features actually work, so don’t expect to use that cool, futuristic looking hand-washing station. Awesome design, though!
By the time all of this happened, I’d been out in the heat for an hour and a half and I was melting. I had also walked three miles without much food in me and I started to get very hungry! So, I got in my car and came home to make dinner.
Somehow, in all this shuffle, I went on as though I had already meditated. I mentally checked it off or something. I don’t know.
Last night, I was relaxing, getting ready for bed, and very suddenly remembered I hadn’t meditated yet after all! I was finishing the last phase of my stretching routine in bed, so I chose a short “Wind Down” session from Headspace. The problem with this was how relaxing it was! I fell asleep in a weird stretch position and woke up with a dead, numb foot! Oops.
However- I am so thankful I remembered and so happy I did it at all! I can’t imagine messing up a streak this long, after I made it over 8 months into this experiment. I would have been so bummed!
The lesson is to slow down, stay present, and be sure to prioritize this stuff as life gets continually busier. I need to be more organized than ever so I’m not anxious about forgetting anything. I can do that. I love organizing things!
So, cheers to near misses and close saves. And morning routines! We can do it! (I think!) (I hope!) (I believe!)
My Year of Meditation 