What really matters?
I've been building my meditation practice for over 8 years. Some days and weeks are great, and I find myself on my cushion in the morning meditating, which really supports me in so many ways. Some days and weeks, I fall out of practice. I always remember what Sharon Salzberg says about missing a meditation. "We get to start again."
That's what I've been focusing on this year since January, when I started my intro to Buddhism and deep meditation course. One of the things in Buddhism is knowing and accepting impermanence. It's hard and emotional to think about at times. I know that we will eventually die. But it's still tough to actually sit and consider at times. I can tell you the more I've been learning and practicing with this notion, the easier it is to contemplate the here and now and what a gift this life is.
I'm in the middle of a 30-day meditation practice with New York Insight meditation. Today I listened to And Then You Die: A Buddhist Death Contemplation, hosted by Nico Hase. It was actually a beautiful practice of thinking of your own death. He posed questions like, What if you only had a year to live? 6 months to live? 30 days to live? What would you do? Who would you spend that time with? What would you say to your loved ones? What would really be at the top of your priority list? What I got from that contemplation was to live in the moment. Love fiercely, do what brings you joy, and don't waste time!
I found it isn’t morbid, in fact it's clarifying. Death contemplation is an ancient practice found in many wisdom traditions. It’s the reminder that our time here is precious and finite. When we remember that, small annoyances lose their grip, and the urgency of emails, petty arguments, and perfectionism starts to fade.
An Invitation
Pause for a moment today and ask yourself:
If I knew I had only a year left, what would I say “yes” to?
What would I release without hesitation?
Who would I spend more time with, and how would I show up differently?
Why This Matters
When we align our lives with what truly matters, we stop waiting for “someday” to live fully. We become less concerned with being busy and more intentional about being alive. It’s not about fitting more in, it's about letting more of you out.
A Gentle Nudge for the Week Ahead
Notice what drains your energy and what lights you up. Then, even in the smallest ways, begin adjusting the balance. Your time is the most precious thing you have...spend it well.