How are you? I hope you are well and feeling strong!!!

Maybe you think meditation is boring, or that you don't have time. Or maybe you think it's the best and you can't live without it!

I heard about mediation for a decade. And I resisted it for a long time. I was never against it, and I knew it was valuable; I just never took the time to integrate it into my life.

I prayed, I exercised, I wrote - I was already doing A LOT for my well-being. I live a life centered on wellness. How much can I possibly do?! (I bet we all feel like that from time to time. No more change, no more improvements. Right?)

Early last year I saw an advertisment for a retreat with one of my favorite teachers, Dr. Shefali Tsabary. She was going to be leading a mediation retreat at 1440 Multiversity, an amazing venue in the Redwoods of California. I knew I really wanted to go - so I could connect with her. Meditation was the price I was going to pay to connect with her and learn from her.

When I arrived I was in awe of the facility. It's magical. Feels beautiful and looks beautiful, not always easy to accomplish.

The attendants piled into the welcome sessions and Dr. Shefali walked in. She basically floats - she's so amazing and peaceful.

I was thrilled. I'd wear cute outfits, take fun pictures, meet cool people.

And then Dr. Shefali said, "Welcome to our SILENT mediation retreat." And I thought, of course, all mediation is silent. And then she said, "Completely silent. Day, afternoon, night. Total silence. No tv, phones, nothing. Silence. We are going to deep dive in mediation."

WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Silence.

I cannot. I'm a writer, but I'm also a talker!!!!!

I spent the next few days in discomfort. Like all my nerves were twitching. I just wanted to talk, to connect, to break the silence. It was not easy.

How was I going to connect with these amazing people? How would they know who I was? How would I talk about my work? Oh my gosh. I was being silenced!!!!!!!!

And then my body and mind relaxed and when I left the mediation, the SILENT meditation retreat, I felt amazing. Present, peaceful.

And ever since that retreat, I meditate every day. I just sit and close my eyes and breath in and out through my nose.

I think, "This. Breath." Over and over.

A purist would say one shouldn't think at all, but I'm not there yet. And it's enough for me to think, "This. Breath."

I inhale and exhale and just create a big-wide open space in my brain. It's like I'm curating an open space in my brain where I can go to rest. No thoughts, no stress, just presence. And the more I meditate, the more beautiful and comforting that space is. I have come to crave it.

I can give you all the science behind mediation, but I'm sure you know that stuff. We KNOW WHAT TO DO - we just need to take the time to incorporate it into our lives.

I was talking to my 60 year old uncle the other day. We were talking in my Abuelita's driveway. And we talked about my writing and then he said, "You know, I meditate everyday." I was shocked.

He fishes, drives a big red truck, he is kind of gruff.

My Uncle Joe mediates? That's amazing.

He said, "Of course I pray, but I also mediate."

I love life, it surprises me and teaches me all the time.

If your heart is calling you to find stillness, consider meditation. It's a free, beautiful, safe way to cultivate peace in your mind and in your life.

Some benefits for mediation include:

If you have any questions or need some guidance, reach out! I'd love to point you in the right direction and share some teachers and resources that have helped me.