Suzanne and I have been meditating together almost every morning for many years. It is a constant connection we make with each other during our daily practice. It does not get static. It does not get old. It remains a source of many new, interesting and refreshing insights into our lives with each other. Here’s an example that happened just yesterday.
We have a meditation room in our house where we go to meditate or to find a quiet place for any number of reasons. When we meditate, I sit in a comfortable high-backed chair and Suzanne will sit on the floor or on our futon on the other side of the room opposite my chair. Yesterday we wanted to both listen to a guided meditation that Suzanne had on her iPod. I moved across to sit next to her on the futon so we could both listen comfortably to the recording through our own earphones.
This was very different for me. This was the first time that we had ever sat side by side during meditation at home. We were close enough to each other that I gently moved my hand into contact with her thigh as we listened. I was conscious of her warmth. I felt a closer connection to her aliveness than I had ever felt before. It was a direct flow of love between us. I felt soothed, happy, and energized all at once. The feelings were delicious. I savored the experience.
I opened my eyes once and noticed that we were both facing the window that looked out on the newly green trees out front and the blue sky beyond. The joy that I felt at that moment was intensified by the luscious flow of energy that we were sharing in our practice. I had an insight then and there that blew me away.
Suzanne and I are both inspired and delighted by the beauty in nature, especially when we see, hear, smell, and feel it in our everyday experiences right outside our front door. We often note on our morning walk or bike ride through the shaded lanes along the shoreline of Lake Monona how lucky we are to live in such beauty here in Madison. On mild quiet nights we are grateful for the beauty of the sunset and subsequent star-filled sky reflecting on the still waters of the lake. How fortunate we are to be here together. It feels right. It feels good.
But yesterday morning sitting close beside Suzanne as we meditated together, I realized the connection between the beauty of nature and the beauty that is my relationship and connection with my soulmate. I decided in that instant that it would be forever impossible to witness the beauty of the universe without seeing in my mind’s eye, heart and soul the beauty of my Suzanne. Every time. Ah, how wonderful!
FROM: Steve Kilkus
Tags: happy relationships
Posted in Meditation, Relationship | Comments Off
There are many ways to let off steam. Not all of them work for everyone but everyone can find one or two or three that can help them stay fit and healthy! Here are two that work for us pretty consistently.
Take a Walk—or a Swim or a Bike Ride
We don’t mean to turn your back on stressful situations. That’s not particularly helpful. But our point is that walking, running, bicycling, swimming, dancing, and other physical activities are some of the best stress busters around. They are a great way to unwind and blow off steam. And brief periods of movement can be equally beneficial. In a moment that you are aware your body has become tense with irritation, your belly churning with anxiousness, or your heart hurting with loss, it’s a good idea to get up and move with the feelings. Dance a bit, open and close your arms around your torso in a self-hug, move the tight and tense places on your body in gentle shimmies. This helps the feelings and sensations move through your body and any stuck thoughts move through your brain. You will come out the other side often with greater clarity of mind for any choice you need to make and action you need to take.
Physical activity also has other, long-lasting benefits. Consistent moderate to vigorous physical activity, for example, can lower your heart rate. Studies of people who have lowered their heart rates have found that these individuals have lower heart rate responses during and after mental stress than people who have not been consistently active. (Remember from our last blog that “consistently active” means moving for 30 minutes a day most days of the week). In addition to reducing the physical response to stress, physical activity can improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Have a Laugh
Anything that makes you laugh also reduces stress. A good laugh relaxes muscles and stimulates the production of stress-relieving chemicals in the brain. Watch a favorite movie comedy or television show that is usually good for a laugh, or schedule to get together for conversation with friends you find entertaining. In a study at Loma Linda University researchers divided volunteers into two groups. One group viewed a 60-minute humor video and the other group did not. Blood tests to measure biochemical changes in hormones involved in a person’s response to stress, showed that the video watchers had improved levels of the hormones. This suggests that laughter may help reduce the harmful ways in which our body naturally responds to stress. Even in a highly charge crisis, a good laugh can reset everything for making choices that lead to positive outcomes. We recently read an example of this. A woman facing a life threatening illness described her experience hearing something about herself and her condition that struck her as absolutely ludicrous. She started laughing and fell off the bed she was sitting on which led to her relaxing and clearly knowing what her next action needed to be.
These two ways of busting the harmful responses to stress are can be fun, will make you feel good, and can make the rest of your life, the best of your life. Do it!
From: Suzanne and Steve
Posted in Health | No Comments »
How do you make your life better? How do you feel good today and most days? Do you want to feel happier? At any age? It’s no secret!! You’ve heard us tout the benefits of healthy breathing for physical, mental, and even spiritual health many times. And all of this is true. Now the next step is literally taking the next step and another step, and another, and another, and many more happy, healthy steps. The key here is to get moving every day!!!
That’s right! Get up and get going! Here are the benefits of regular physical activity (according to the Cooper Institute in Dallas, TX):
- Better weight control
- More energy
- Brighter mental outlook
- Increased self-esteem
- Reduced risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes
- Reduced risk of colon cancer
- Less chance of colds and flu
- Healthy and strong bones, joints, and muscles
- Staying fit and flexible
- Living a healthier and longer independent life
Sound good? Sure it does. Let’s face it, if a pill could offer so many benefits, we’d all want to take it!! But you don’t need a pill and for the most part getting moving every day doesn’t cost anything!!
So here is the recommendation for getting moving that Suzanne and I use. To achieve and maintain the above benefits get moving a minimum of 30 minutes a day most days of the week. Walking is a GREAT way to move, any activity that gets the joints and muscles contracting is just as good. How about dancing!? And the activity doesn’t even have to be in one big lump of time. Ten minutes of moving 3 times a day is just as good as moving for 30 minutes at one time.
For more up-to-date accurate info check out The Cooper Institute Blog at http://blog.standupandeat.org/category/Active-Living.aspx . And get moving every day!!
From: Steve Kilkus
Posted in Health | No Comments »
