Mind Versus Body: Getting Them to Cooperate

Day Two of my journey toward better health and wellness.

Photo by Benjamin Child on Unsplash

“Sit still,” my mom used to tell me.

And I could do that. No matter where I was — the dinner table, the back of our Chevy Caprice, the front seat of the grocery cart. It wasn’t hard to stop my body from moving on demand.

So, when I embarked upon this 10-day experience to develop better habits to feel better in my mind and body, I wasn’t intimidated by the idea of practicing stillness. All I need to do is sit quietly each day for 5–10 minutes, focusing only on my breath.

Piece of cake. Or so I thought.

I decided to “practice stillness” on my patio this morning. It’s nice outside. Not too hot. Not too cold. The trees are green and full, offering me a nice private space to sit alone and meditate, which is what “practicing stillness” sounds like to me anyway.

I closed my eyes and tipped my chin up toward the sky. The sun warmed my face, and it made me smile. But as soon as I started thinking about my breath, I got distracted. The cardinals were singing. A woodpecker was banging on a nearby tree. A dog was barking in the distance, and the neighbor behind us was hollering to his kids — hurry, the school bus was coming.