‘If we change the way we experience the world, then the world change.” – Mathieu Ricard – “The happiest man in the world”

I have watched a few new (to me) documentaries lately about meditation in nature with the Buddhist monk Mathieu Ricard. In the first one they were in Argentina, and the second one was in Iceland.

The scenery was just absolutely spectacular in both films, but Iceland…wow. That was beautiful. He really is an interesting person, and also a photographer who really immerses himself in nature in these beautiful places. He brings that into his teachings and meditations and I found it interesting.

I know hiking and being in the forest has always been a healing thing for me…and I miss so very much having that healing close by. Yeah, I have done a little hiking around here (what little there is that is anywhere close to nice), but those hikes I took on that trip to Rapid City in July brought it all rushing back to me and I needed that so bad…much worse than I realized. It is not just the forest, but also those mountains that are so deeply imbedded in my heart. And those are not here.

But, as soon as my foot is healed up enough I will take some hikes around here and make the best of it until I can get back to where my heart is. I have an appointment next week so I will find out then how my foot is doing. I am feeling good that I can put my boots back on and hike. The Fall colors will be happening soon so that is something nice to see before the ugliness of winter’s naked, lifeless trees are amongst us.

With no big forest around to lose my self in, plus it was winter, I got passively interested in trying meditation a year or two ago and downloaded a meditation app. I found it interesting and relaxing but I kinda set it aside for a while after trying it, focusing on some things in life that needed my attention – without realizing that the two are not actually mutually exclusive. Duh.

I revisited it a while back more seriously to see if it would help me in dealing with some things and discovered that I am actually a good candidate for it. I can get totally lost as soon as the focus on breathing happens in a guided meditation. My mind goes blank and I just go with it. It is pretty interesting when you can do that and it is very calming, especially with what is happening in the world currently. Out of curiosity, I took my blood pressure before and after and there was a difference; it was noticeably lower afterwards.

Don’t take any of this as preachy – that is certainly not me nor my intention. Everyone has their own life to live their own way and nobody should interfere with that. I just wanted to talk briefly about the films I saw and my experiences with trying meditation, which I have found helpful even with my irregular sessions on my own at home. If this topic interests you look up Ricard – he is an interesting person and maybe try it yourself.

🙂

Yesterday, a good friend & I got back in touch and it was really nice to do that. We used to talk and text every day but had not been in contact for a while – life happens – so I thought I would send an email. Next thing I knew my phone rang and three hours later after a few “Talk to you later”s we reluctantly hung up. We caught up on the things happening in our lives and talked about travel & quite possibly taking a trip someplace.

That call really reminded me how special this person is to me. It made me smile inside and out to talk with someone who I am glad that I can call a best friend. We have always been there for each other and that will never change. I don’t think we will be going so long without talking again.

I am headed to bed.

✌🏼

Shawn