if i meditate? am I a hippie??

You can become whatever you aspire to be.

I aim to be happy, peaceful, and content in my life.

Meditation absolutely helps me achieve that. When I've tried to define and explain meditation to a general audience, I find it challenging to give it the depth it truly deserves. There is endless information to comb over based on the applications from a thousand years. Every religion throughout history has its own interpretation of what meditation brings to them in terms of prayer and peace. Let me include this quote I love, by Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, "Through the study of books, one seeks God; by meditation, one finds him." Not much has changed over the centuries. The breathing, mantras, silence, relaxation techniques, and prayer remain constant. Additionally, meditation is not limited to religion; not everyone chooses to pray. There are numerous benefits to meditating, such as stress reduction, relaxation, and self-improvement.

As I delve into the history of explanations, attachments, definitions, applications, and ownership, I can safely say in a blanket statement, meditation is good for everyone.

I intended to write this piece on meditation to introduce the idea that it is not only a powerful tool for daily life but also a means to uncover your deepest, most intimate selves. Trust me, it is a gift you give to yourself. However, for many, it seems too distant, too embarrassing, and maybe too absurd. But meditation offers some of the most personal, genuine, and honest moments you can spend with yourself just taking time to exist.

I didn't begin meditating until I was 57 years old and watching my 3-year-old granddaughter meditate makes me feel like I missed out on this experience for 54 years! When I started, I felt self-conscious and often wondered if I was doing it correctly. There are breathing patterns, mantras, intentions, and postures—it seems like there's so much more to focus on than achieving peace and tranquility! My advice to you is to stop worrying! Stop thinking about the details and what others are doing; just do what feels right for you.

Pause everything else and take time for yourself. No one is judging your techniques. Begin in a place where you feel safe and comfortable. There are so many ways to meditate, you will know what feels right. You can choose to be walking, standing, sitting, and even spinning! When I read that, I realized I had been meditating much earlier in life through my love of long-distance running. I would find that perfect rhythm where I could run without tiring, maintain a great breathing pattern, and lose myself in my thoughts and dreams. When I got home, I felt inspired and motivated to pursue what I had contemplated, feeling emotionally balanced and confident. Meditation even helps me plan my day by visualizing my priorities and needs, thus reducing the stress of the need to make decisions "on the fly."

You are not only in charge of your own happiness, your happiness is your responsibility. Meditation can help you connect with your true self, through all of your learning phases, it is a mirror to your soul. I'm not suggesting you perform extraordinary feats, but rather that it's perfectly fine to discover who you are by understanding yourself. This should be grounded in your own insights, not influenced by others, as you are the most reliable source of your own information and self-love.

I could easily compile an extensive list of religions and their meditation practices, whether from Eastern, Middle Eastern, or Western traditions, including Chakras and Mantras. I could also spend a more considerable amount of time reading and studying meditation, as this information is indeed fascinating and vast. And whichever way my meditative knowledge grows, I will take what suits me and it will be planted as a constant positive. In addition, I am also happy that I focus on journaling about my meditation topics, intentions, conflicts, and moments of calm, which has led me to a personal learning journey, just for me, as I review and grow through my meditative notes. Am I an expert?

Not at all, but I am the authority on my relationship with myself and my self-love. For me, it's about fulfilling my needs, relaxation, calm, and peace. My meditation, along with how I breathe, sit, stand, and walk, is not about anyone else; it's about taking care of myself. Now take that nice breath in through the nose and long exhale out, you got this!

Please enjoy my "Kim Begin Again" Podcast on Spotify!