I think I dropped into a meditative state listening to Tamara Beaton read her offering to our Secret Association of Poetry Appreciators – because I was utterly surprised when I listened a second time to discover the recording was only 30 seconds long. Perhaps this is the whole secret of meditation, and why my “I don’t actually have enough time for this practice” is so upside down and inside out.

Tamara explains, “Meditation was introduced to me by an incredible woman named Lyn Stroshin. She was part of my Masters in Education cohort and her field study focused on how meditation might help teachers professionally and personally. I was a reluctant participant as I was very busy teaching full time, doing my masters and being a mom to two little children and a wife. She, of course, knew that that was the very reason why I needed to be part of her study. 

Lyn’s gift of meditation opened me up to a new level of self knowledge that has quite literally saved me over and over again. 

Meditation has been part of my daily life for 14 years now. My practice and in turn, my self knowledge have grown and evolved over the years. 

I love this poem by Thich  Nhat Hahn.”

To Meditate

by Thich Nhat Hahn

To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem.

To meditate means to observe.

Your smile proves it.

It proves that you are being gentle with yourself.

That the sun of awareness is shining on you.

That you have control of your situation.

You are yourself, and you have acquired some peace.