What’s Suzie’s Last Name?

Sometimes I feel like my memory is on vacation… I hope it gets well rested and comes back.:)  I sense that I am forgetting things with more frequency, whether it’s walking into a room and wondering, “Why did I come in here?" or telling a story to a friend and realizing, “I told you that yesterday, didn’t I?” 

When I consider this lack of retention, a funny story always comes to mind.  Back when my dear Mom and Dad were still here on the earth plane, I would visit them frequently in their home in Walnut Creek, CA.  One particular visit I remember walking into the kitchen to find them laughing so hard tears were almost rolling. Of course, as I was curious as to what inspired this joviality, they told me this:  Dad had asked Mom, “What’s Suzie’s last name?” To which my Mom replied, “Suzie who?”  (I still crack up even writing this…)

In any case, yes, I believe age does have something to do with it, but there are other factors as well. I also think the huge amount of data that we take into our lives on a daily basis along with the stress of many things that are unfolding in our world right now - many that we feel no control to stop or change - are equally responsible.

So what’s the answer to bringing a sense of peace and equanimity back into our days and our lives in general?  Well here are a few suggestions that I am doing my best to follow as well. (Many I’m sure you are already aware of but are you making time for them?)

1) Getting out in nature.  Sitting at the water’s edge, watching the waves roll in and out… Walking in a forested area, placing your hands on the bark of a sturdy tree… If you’re blessed enough to live near mountains, sit quietly somewhere that you can experience their majestic nature…  Listen to melody and calls of bird song…

2) Take some time each day in silence.  Be fully aware of your breath, fully aware of your beating heart. These are the miracles of life that keep us alive with or without our notice and can offer a soft landing space when we are tired, confused or just down right fed up.

3) Come into a mantra that soothes your Spirit.  Here is one that I learned from the wonderful teacher Kamini Desai that resonates deeply:    “I AM THE CREATOR OF MY EXPERIENCE OF LIFE."

This is so simple yet when fully embraced gives us the power and intention to BE in the moment -  to honor the knowing that it is indeed up to us how we react to the ongoing life experiences we encounter.

Along with the above suggestions, here is a short meditation that you can do to bring yourself into a state of equanimity. I hope it brings you peace.