Thursday, January 10, 2008

Prayer & Meditation

So I'm reading "Eat Pray Love" - I'm sure many of you have heard the hype (Oprah and all) and for me it's definitely hitting home. The only unfortunate part about it is that, unlike the author, I have neither the ways nor the means to leave a (non-existent) successful career and a (very real) all-consuming family and travel the world for a year to find pleasure, spirituality and the balance between them.

I find that while I just barely find time to merely read the book, the book makes me hunger like a starving child for more time for self-discovery and for prayer (real, honest, specific prayer) and for meditation (real, honest, out-of-body-into soul meditation).

Although I traditionally (and I think totally reasonably) refuse to make "resolutions" (cuz, really! What are the odds?!) I will (practicing some amount of tenuous faith) publicly make it known that I intend this year to find time or make time for these indulgences. To others it may seem a selfish endeavor - some friendships will suffer, some hobbies put aside.

But, read the book and you too may discover why I have come to believe the practice of prayer & meditation when embraced and practiced in it's truest form might just be the best thing every individual on this planet can do to heal - first themselves, then their nearest and dearest, and ultimately, this planet. I also believe this is only the beginning of a true spiritual journey and I hope you will indulge me as I write about my experiences along the way.

As many of you know I have a tattoo of a dove of peace. When asked what tattoo was closest to my heart that is the one I named. When asked one word that describes me, I chose peace-maker. I want it for the world, I strive for it in my family, I hate confrontation. So, through more self-indulgent prayer & meditation I hope to become the words and the images that I use to describe myself in a more profound and impactful (is that a word?) way.

A footnote: I've not yet finished the book - my sister's reaction was perplexing - If the lessons I'm learning turn out to be ruined by some horrific untruth or corny ending, I could be, well, as I like to say "talkin' out my ass"! HAHAHAHAHA! (Maybe my next tattoo should be of a rubber hose - because ultimately, I do like to "remain flexible"!) LOL!

Who knows where this is leading? And it doesn't change who I am. Maybe just a more authentic me (that's all I'm really hoping for). Stay tuned!

*Note: I'm still working on me a year later!