It snowed today. It began early and continued throughout the morning commute. Normally this doesn’t affect me but today was the last day of a three-day workshop that I was leading and I feared the roads would be impassable. The workshop was being streamed so people could click in and attend virtually but participation is an important element of the curriculum and there was no mechanism in place for interaction which is core to the material being presented, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program and its application to clinical care. The program is very relational and inquiry and discussion are central to learning. Mindfulness cultivates equanimity and the ability to be present to pleasant and unpleasant events alike. It also brings awareness to our default position. In my case, at this time, it was pessimistic believing only myself, the video person and one or two people who had stayed at the hotel would be present.
I entered the room and immediately saw three people.
"You made it,' I said, ‘Wonderful! This may be an intimate group today.”
“Oh I am sure most will come,” said one of the women.
“How many do you think will be here?” I asked.
“Oh, 20."
There were 28 in the group. I was dubious. “Maybe 8,” I said.
“Oh, I think more,” another participant chimed in. “The roads weren’t too bad.”
“Let’s see,” I said, still doubting and went to set up my PowerPoint.
People began dribbling in. Twenty arrived and I gave a high five to Gloria who had named that number. More arrived and all but three were present in person and the others had signed in electronically.
A wave of gratitude overtook me. No one had to come. They could have attended electronically and gotten their CEU’s. They wanted to be present. There was a feeling of community, warmth and caring. This touched my heart. It took an effort to be present and be mindful. Mindfulness is not easy. It means we have to face ourselves, who we are, what we are, and all the factors that impact our lives and how we meet them. Community and the support it gives is vital-and sadly often not there.
It is the holiday season as I write this. Decorations and holiday music and “cheer” abound. It is a time of giving and receiving. It can also be a time of sadness and isolation, expectations and disappointments.
I feel I was given a gift on this cold snowy day. A gift of love and intimacy among people who had not met before and now we're laughing together, sharing thoughts and feelings as they practiced opening hearts and minds in silence and speech. How fortunate I am I thought to be able to do the work of mindfulness and be able to experience the warmth of community and behold the human spirit.
Happy Holidays to you and yours. May we all appreciate each other and be able to give, to receive and enjoy this season.