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meditation on a rose


The universe was trying to tell me something this week. 

First, I got a bouquet of beautiful pink roses from my daughter’s boyfriend for no particular reason (who does that? He’s a keeper!)

The next day I read about the Heart of the Rose meditation in The Monk who Sold his Ferrari. In this form of meditation you gaze into the heart of a rose for several minutes, soaking in the beauty and clearing your mind of all other distractions. I tried it briefly, but honestly, I wasn't really into it.

Later that day, since I apparently didn’t get the message, my coworker gave me a beautiful rose from her garden.

So now I had a rose on my desk at work, roses on my table at home, and a book on my counter reminding me to take more time to meditate.

I had been on a great streak of meditating ten minutes a day while I was at home all day this summer, but since I went back to work, that was one of the first habits to quietly slip away. The stress of the pandemic sneaks up on you. You think "I got this, I'm flexible, we can do this. Think positive!" And I think I do a pretty good job of handling it, overall. I'm pretty lucky. No one in my family has gotten sick, we haven't lost our jobs, and my kids do ok with online learning. However, the constant change in schedules (online learning, now in-person learning, oops! Now we're online again!) takes a toll. The teachers around me are working harder than ever, with the constant underlying fear of sickness, and knowing that online learning is definitely not the best option for most kids. It's hard to not soak up some of that stress on top of my own.

And yes, my own kids are doing ok with online learning, but they're missing out on sports, music, and hanging out with their friends--the things that bring them the most joy. I miss my friends too. And date nights with my husband. And holidays with my extended family. And going to kids' sporting and music events. Meditating helps me focus on the present moment--not the things I'm missing out on or the fear of the future. Maybe not such a bad habit to reinstate...

Now I just have to figure out how to get a constant supply of roses. :)

Lesson from the universe:

Look past the thorns in life, breathe in the sweet scent, and focus on the beauty at the center of it all.

Peace, friends!

If you'd like to talk to me more about how to implement your own healthy habits, book a free call with me by clicking the Calendly button.  I look forward to talking with you!









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