Walking Meditation

     At the MBSR class, we were instructed how to do the walking meditation, which is basically walking purposefully, paying attention to what you are doing, how your feet are moving, how they touch the ground, and also to focus on what you observe along the way.  In class, we all had to stand up and walk slowly about from one room to another, in our mind thinking, left foot, heel touching ground, toe touching ground, right foot, heel touching ground, etc.  We were a bit like zombies!  It did feel quite awkward because our movements were at an exaggerated slow speed.  Of course, we had to pay attention to each other around us, so we would not bump into each other, as well.  After course completion, there are 4 reunions yearly for an all day meditation (yes, you can really meditate all day if you want to!), and we were given the assignment to go outside on the beautiful grounds and do a walking meditation for one hour.  There we all were, just walking around quietly, not talking to each other, but just being present in our own moment, observing everything.  I enjoyed that so much!  I was walking from tree to tree, making that my destination, and I noticed the most amazing things about trees that I never would have observed, had I just been walking about in my own fog!  Since learning this, I try to make all of my walks purposeful, keeping my mind on what is going on right now, what is there around me as I pass it by.  There is beauty in the world that we miss if we don't pay attention, and thus, would enhance our day if we just noticed.  The pay back is, not only the feeling of peace, but I find money everywhere I go, so, you never know what you are missing!  There was a time when I walked, that my mind would be filled with all of my problems and I would think something to death, trying to solve everything, and totally miss out on the feeling of going for a walk.  Just yesterday on my lunch break from work, I walked for the purpose of exercise and meditation, I found myself in a cemetery in this small New England town, and I felt amazed at all of the beautiful stones I saw (nicer than some other cemeteries I have visited), and off in the distance I saw an angel statue.  That became my destination, and once there was amazed at the beauty of this very old statue.  I have taken several pictures of this statue and another small angel statue. I plan to save these pictures and use them for a future art piece.  I was able to see the blessing in my day, just because I paid attention to the moment.