Coming to Be: March 12 - 18

My breath reminds me of the mystery of being.

Breathe and be grounded.

Breathe and be mindful.

Breathe and be grateful.

Breathe and be alive.

Breathe.

It is a gift to be born. Only I will occupy this unique space and time in history. My life will never be repeated. With each new day comes a new beginning. In some way, each day is a new opportunity to bring to birth a new part of myself. How will I choose to use this day? Maybe I'll work on a difficult relationship. Maybe I'll delight in the beauty of nature. Maybe I'll create space for prayer and meditation. Maybe I'll try out a new recipe. Maybe I'll pay some bills and take care of my family. So many possibilities. Today is only given once. May I use it graciously.

Practice

Use the breath as an anchor. Breathe in and know that you are breathing. Sense where the breath is most present in the body. Is it the nostrils, the throat, the belly?

As thoughts arise, return your awareness to the breath. This is the basic practice. Thoughts will surface over and over again. No worry. Thoughts are not distractions but invitations to return to awareness of the breath again and again. Returning to awareness is the essence of mindfulness.