Day 24 - Evening

When I lived in a monastery, I began and ended each day with prayer. The rhythm of my daily activities echoed the hours of the day. This ancient pattern is still repeated by religious communities throughout the world. You don’t have to be a monk to give this a try. I encourage you to integrate a bit of calm and stillness into the evening hour. As nature transitions from light to dark, allow your body and mind to transition from busyness to quietness.

Practice Options

• Andy Hobson is one of my favorite teachers on Insight Timer. His “Just Got Home” meditation is a sure-fired way to decompress at the end of a long day.

• Have you ever felt beaten up by the day or worn down by the worries of the world? I’ve learned gratitude is the antidote to fear. When I'm troubled, the world around me shrinks and becomes a place of scarcity. But when I'm mindful of gratitude, the world expands, brightens and becomes a place of blessing. Begin a gratitude practice. Reflect back on your day and write down three things for which you are grateful. At times, I record these in a journal. Other times, I share my gratitudes via email with a small group of friends. Pick a method that works for you.
  

• Do a little research and set an alarm a few minutes before sunset. In my part of the world, sunset is around 7 pm these days. Even better if you can get to the beach with a cocktail. Pause and savor the last moments of the day.