Meditation

Part of the managing-my-eating-habits program is a daily meditation period. I take half an hour first thing in the morning to do my meditation. I begin with a little booklet that has a reading, question, prayer, and meditation starter for each day of the year (today was February 27th special subject) all contained on about the space of a 3x5 card. I have found it works better if I sit in the Living Room -- unlike the Family Room, chaos does not reign here. I concentrate on some beautiful things that live in that room.

Today's was especially effective. First I remembered that when I worked -- the last year was particularly stressful -- I kept a picture of the flower bench in our back yard on my desk. Pre-retirement I had really beautiful potted geraniums and impatiens on that bench. That picture helped center me when I really was about to explode. I have neglected my garden since I retired and haven't needed it as a stress buster. I will get back out there and try to bring it back this summer. Right now the blood red Japonica Camellia is blooming and I only see it when I go out to pick oranges. What a waste for the flowers and a loss for me.

Second, I somehow got in touch with my dad. He was probably the finest and most giving person I have ever known. This morning I almost felt like he was in the room and communicating with me. I wasn't channeling or anything, I just felt his presence and his strength.