Meditation

I've begun my meditation practice again. I'm enrolled in an online summer class for the U to complete a few extra credits and I am SO GLAD I chose to take "Meditation & Stress." The instructor is Dr. Riesdel, who facilitated the Anxiety Group I was part of at the U for a couple of semesters. It was all totally meant to be :) One chapter that I really loved this week was titled "Role Stress." It totally opened my eyes to the fact that I have been constantly placing myself in the same roles my entire life. Some of them come to me, but oftentimes I seek them out. I have always thought that leadership, taking charge, and heavily influencing others is something I get joy out of - but that's because my college life consisted of student leader roles, joining clubs, auditioning for solos, enforcing campus policy, etc. Big surprise to nobody but me. It was impossible to choose ONE quote this week, but I selected a favorite that I have enjoyed thinking on this week:

“We might even risk being ourselves in ALL our various roles. We might at some point feel secure enough to be true to ourselves and more authentic in everything we choose to do.”

Right now I'm sitting in my hotel room in Cancun, Mexico with a white sandy beach awaiting my presence in the morning (after I've eaten my room-service breakfast in a bed-sized jacuzzi, of course). I'm feeling super mindful and content. It's good to be on vacation.

-AV