Wonder, Wander

Rise and shine!

Another beautiful day in the land and here you are, alive and well. Above ground. Conscious and breathing. Heart is beating, blood is flowing.

While some of us wake to the blaring of an alarm, rushing off to begin the routine that acts as stability in our lives, others of us take a few extra minutes to sit in silence. Unmoving, eyes still closed, breathing deeply and quietly while we absorb every ounce of the silence surrounding us. For these luxurious early minutes, we are still, in all of our being. With each inhale, we are focused on nothing but the subtle messages from our body. We listen as it tells us where to stretch, what nutrients it craves, emotions to tell us how we feel. The silence gives our body and our subconscious alike, a voice. Within minutes we feel more connected to ourselves, we are filled with a level of gratitude that would not otherwise be felt without these vital few minutes. We are a society with a generational need for instant gratification, instant honey moon phase feelings, quick & fulfilling answers to our list of questions. So why not make a habit of this stillness? Make a habit of receiving the most natural of answers? Make a habit of gratification that is always right here within us? This is easier said than done, for a lot of us.

Inner silence and peace is something our world does not teach us. It is not often brought to our attention as a way to handle our emotions, actions or words. We are not advertised meditation or a "stop and smell the roses" perspective like we are advertised new medication on the market or the next "life hack". Why isn't every one all over this simple, available, life hack? Is it because the consumer becomes the producer as well? Is it because the consumer won't need to spend a penny of their budget in meditation opposed to overspending on pharmaceuticals that your body now depends on to reach similar effects? Are we so conditioned to turning/listening to everything but ourselves when our body makes small cries for help? When our mind makes small cries for help? Of course we are. In a consumer society, we have become consumed with the quickest fix to our endless list of life events and hindrances. As a collective, we live as if the answer to us, is found everywhere but within us. We are given all of these "solutions" on a silver platter. "Solutions" such as medication, alcohol, nicotine, any substance, retail therapy, etc. Even after returning to these "solutions" for most of our lives, it never occurs to us that we are simply assuming the position of the consumer. We are not solving anything other than the minor worries of billion dollar industries paid to sedate us. To be so distracted by everything on the outside, it is nearly impossible to pay attention to or even hear what's happening on the inside.

So, what? Are we wrong for coming to this conclusion? Are we wrong for encouraging our loved ones to practice a few moments of silence when their emotions take them for a spin? Are we wrong for assuming our society doesn't encourage this type of self treatment? I think it's appropriate to carry any one of these thoughts. I'm not saying meditation or moments in silence will solve all of the worlds problems, but it will start with each and every individual in gaining freedom of their mind, body and spirit. In reminding each person that peace, peace of mind and good health can indeed begin and end with them. They don't have to go out looking or go spending on a fix. I feel each and every one of us owes it to ourselves to sit and listen. To feel. To detach from the world's distractions in hopes of finding our own voice again. I wonder, if we will ever wander this way collectively. Because in this case, all who wander, are found. :-)