Welcome,
Friends.
In 1977,
James Taylor released a song called The Secret of Life,
Which includes the lyric,
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.
In this meditation,
We'll reflect on those words and their simple truth through stillness and a gentle mantra.
So let's begin by taking a comfortable seat.
Rest your hands in your lap or on your thighs.
And if it feels safe to do so,
Close your eyes or lower your gaze.
Begin to notice the natural rhythm of your breath.
Don't try to change it.
Just let it breathe on its own.
Let the steady inhale and exhale start to calm and soothe both the body and the mind.
As people who have retired know,
Time seems to move differently when there are no rigid schedules to follow.
In the morning,
The day feels full of promise,
Yet before we know it,
Evening arrives and we wonder where did the day go?
The month?
Where did the year go?
Remember when you were in school,
How time seemed to stretch endlessly?
Waiting for summer to begin felt like forever.
And then,
A few weeks into summer,
You found yourself ready for school again.
When we were young,
Time seemed to move so slowly,
And now it often passes in what feels like the blink of an eye.
We're only given so much time in this life,
So let's choose to enjoy it while we can.
Returning now to James Taylor's lyric,
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.
Let's anchor that wisdom with a simple mantra.
Today,
I will enjoy the ride.
Today,
I will cherish every moment.
Today,
I will enjoy the ride.
Today,
I will cherish every moment.
Today,
I will enjoy the ride.
Today,
I will cherish every moment.
Now repeat this mantra silently to yourself.
Let the words flow with your breath.
It's time to release the mantra and come back to the space around you.
Take a deep breath in and exhale.
Let everything go.
Any movement that your body needs.
Ready?
Gently open your eyes.
Enjoy your day.
Grateful for every moment of the passage of time.
Namaste.
