Peace of Mind 

I needed a massage bad; three teen-age children, newly divorced, working two jobs to make ends meet, I was exhausted and full of stress. The masseuse arrived looking as bad as I felt. I could see her white face and small shoulders slumping from the effort of lugging her heavy massage table.

"Would you mind if I took ten minutes to meditate in a quiet place in your home?" she asked. "I'll feel better."

I led her into my bedroom and said, "Take your time."

True to her word she came out ten minutes later looking radiant, transformed from a tired old woman to a beautiful young woman. Mystified I wondered if she'd taken some drugs, "What did you do in my bedroom?"

"I did transcendental meditation. It always refreshes me."

"Can you teach me to do what you did? I could use your technique to get through my days a little easier."

She said, "let me begin your massage, and I'll tell you my story." I'd always been able to see auras, the energy field around people, and her aura was  brilliantly white. Unusual! Her hands felt so good on my shoulders as she rubbed them.

"Too many people needed me today and I didn't have time to meditate. When I forget to meditate twice a day, I get tired and emotionally down. Thanks for the use of your bedroom.

"I can't teach you transcendental meditation because that takes too much time,  but I can offer you a few techniques to help you lessen your stress.

"Think about the best vacation you ever had. Use your imagination to visualize it. Breathe out any tension. Each time you exhale, let go of any negative thoughts. And let your mind remember the scenery of the vacation, the feelings you had when you first arrived."

My body began to relax as her soft voice carried me back to my aunt's home in Wisconsin. She had been so caring and loving.

Time passed and I heard the masseuse say, "don't hurry to get up. I'm going to meditate more while you bring your mind and body back to the present."

It seemed like only a few moments since she'd started, but when I looked at the clock, an hour-and-a-half had passed. That night I slept like a newborn baby, stress free.

The next day I tried to do what she'd taught me. My mind kept jumping back and forth on the day's events; how to get everything done, be a good mother and trying to earn enough money to sustain my family's needs. I found it hard to focus and shut off my concerns about the day. Closing off a part of me was not easy.

I read books on meditation. I kept trying to meditate and sometimes I could focus on a blue sky easier than other days. I remembered how hard it had been to practice the piano when I was young, but how pleasant it got once I knew what I was doing.  That thought kept me going.

I found a teacher who didn't charge too much. Monday evenings were for meditating with a group. I learned that if I focused on my breathing, I could stop my mind from dwelling on my problems. Breathe in a positive saying helped me focus; such as: I am at peace... only good will come... I am loved. Breathe out all negative thoughts. Concentrating on my breathing helped me relax.

Week by week, I learned how to meditate and relax and sleep. It just takes a few minutes twice a day to return to peace of mind. You're worth it.