I ended the last day of 2021 in the same manner in which I ended the first day of 2022: with a meditation beside the Christmas tree. Lighting a candle and stick of Palo Santo, I sunk into the deep breathing, focusing on a few key points and allowing the mind to present what it needed to present, then gradually clearing the space for stillness and emptiness, expanding the room within my mind until it was endless and empty – until all that remained was the breath and the peace.
My meditation practice fell by the wayside as other concerns occupied life for much of 2021, and I felt its absence more keenly now that I look back on things. For that reason, I’m planning on going back to daily meditations, which makes for a calmer baseline from day to day. It’s too easy to get tense and worried when I move away from meditating for a while.
Like its benefits, the drawbacks of not meditating aren’t felt immediately, nor are they distinct and decisive. They become noticeable with a rise in agitation and irritability, when everything at work suddenly becomes unbearable, or petty arguments suddenly seem insurmountable. As I notice those things happening, I return to meditating, and slowly the return to a place of serenity begins to happen.
Consistency is key to reaping the maximum enjoyment and benefits from meditation, and I forgot that over the past few months. A new year is a good time to get back into good habits, and winter is when mindfulness seems to matter most.
