Practicing the Pause

It’s never too late to practice new behavior. I learn this from a friend my age. After a potentially fatal health diagnosis, for the first time in his life he has started to meditate. Like really meditate, with help from a Buddhist teacher. Despite his quite worrisome news, I notice a difference in him. A real sense of calm.

For my entire life I’ve had an uncanny amount of energy. That has been a gift in some ways, but much of it is fueled by anxiety. Meditation helps me too, as does physical activity (exercise, walking the dog, etc.). Even so, too often I still react from a sense of needing to control outcomes.