Smile: June 7 - 13
I love being a grandad. And I love the moments I spend with Sage. Recently, I held him for an hour as he slept in my arms. Everything about him is amazing from his tiny toes to his curly black hair. I'm enthralled by his breathing, his expression, even his knees. When he smiles, I am filled with such joy. Sage doesn't have to do anything, simply being is enough.
When the Buddha taught his followers to meditate, he instructed,
"Breathing in, feel joyful.
Breathing out, feel joyful.
Breathing in, feel happy.
Breathing out, feel happy."
Sitting with the breath can be like sitting with a baby. In meditation, the point is not to watch the inhale and exhale the way one performs exercises at the gym. The point is to hold one's self tenderly, to deeply appreciate own's one life, to smile from the inside, to feel more and think less, to simply be.
Practice
Kyra, one of my earliest yoga teachers, said her favorite pose was to smile. Let's practice smiling this week.
Find a favorite spot where you won't be disturbed. Settle in and take several mindful breaths to calm the body. Let go of the worries and cares of the day as the earth supports you. Arrive home within yourself.
Now imagine holding yourself as an infant or as a small child. Know you are safe and protected. See your small self settling in, breathing peacefully. Surround yourself with care and love like a blanket. You both breathe in and breathe out together. Your hearts beat in unison. Experience a sense of shared contentment.
Breathing in, feel joyful.
Breathing out, feel joyful.
Breathing in, feel happy.
Breathing out, feel happy.
Allow the corners of your mouth to turn upward. Envision a smile on your face. Feel your smile grow as gladness fills the body and the heart. Let your smile be your home. Abide in gladness.
Breathing in, feel joyful.
Breathing out, feel joyful.
Breathing in, feel happy.
Breathing out, feel happy.
Remember to breathe. Remember to smile. Remember to simply be. Radiate joy and happiness to all you meet this day.
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