A PERSONAL INVITATION

                                                                            MORNING CAFE MEDITATION

Those of you who know me, know that I’ve been meditating regularly for about 6 years now (and, irregularly, for about 30 years!)

My routine is this. I get up (usually because our 3 cats decide it is time for me to get up,) feed the cats (obviously!) and make myself a great cup of coffee (I live in Italy and have a professional coffee grinder.) This is a ritual for me. The Japanese have a tea ritual. I have a coffee ritual. The grinder is adjusted perfectly for my stove-top espresso maker. It takes about 5 minutes for the water to come to a boil inside and push itself up through the filter and cascade down inside the top half of the contraption. The smell (or “profumo” in Italian) is divine! I then take my cup outside (accompanied by 3 cats) to appreciate the view from the terrace down into the Tiber Valley. This is my moment to really give thanks for all that I have.

Once I’ve enjoyed my coffee, I meditate. It has become a habit for me. Like running. And like running, I had to develop the habit. At first it was difficult and sometimes, I really didn’t “feel” like meditating. Just like sometimes I really don’t feel like going on a run, but I just put on my shoes, and force myself out the door. Once I’m outside, and take those first steps, I get into it. And I feel so much better afterwards!

Same thing with meditating. I feel so much better afterwards! But there are those mornings where I am looking for excuses to skip my meditation because I don’t feel like it:  “I have so much to do. I really need to answer those emails. And write a blog post! I should just get down to it!” Those were the excuses going through my head this morning, while I sat myself down in my “meditation chair” facing the bookshelf, where my Buddha lives. I was still coming up with mental excuses when I looked up at the bookshelf and saw the morning light hit the Buddha perfectly, illuminating his head. He looked so real in that nano-second. I could almost hear him breathing. And in that moment, I knew that there were no excuses for me. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, smiled, and meditated.

The Universe had sent me a personal invitation!
 

And I am forwarding that invitation to you. Give yourself permission to take a minute to be with yourself. Yes, start with just a minute. Close your eyes, smile and take a deep breath as you count to 5. Then exhale, counting to 5. Do that 6 times, counting to 5 each time you inhale and exhale. There – you meditated for a whole minute! It’s that simple! Open your eyes and see how you feel…and please share with me here!  

I love success stories!
 

Scroll to Top