On meditation and wet dogs–lessons to be learned

I have had a glorious day so far, my first full day on Block Island. It is in the low 80’s with a nice ocean breeze. I have synthesized my vitamin D for the day, and have then slathered my mineral-based sunscreen all over my tanning body. I have been walking and biking more than usual, and my legs feel somewhat tired but firm!!

An interesting moment of enlightenment occurred this morning, after my morning post. I went out after blogging, decked in my trail shoes, ready for a sunrise hike before my husband woke up. I set out at a good pace, and headed for the beach below the Surf Hotel. I logged a couple miles and I passed a few other earlybirds with their dogs, and each of us seemed to be reveling in the beautiful early morning air, sites and sounds. I happened upon a younger woman, sitting cross-legged on the sand, right at the edge where the water wouldn’t reach her, in a long, gauze skirt and blouse. She was obviously meditating, and looked so serene and peace-filled. I watched, as a very wet, snuffling pug scampered over to this woman and proceded to sniff her up and down and, in the process, get her quite sandy and wet! Now I am a dog lover, but when I am having a nice quiet moment, the last thing I’d want is someone else’s wet dog all over my body! But instead, she barely seemed to notice him, and certainly didn’t get all ruffled (like I likely would have!) I was amazed and glad that I caught this moment, so I could learn from it.

Oh, so many lessons to be learned. How to relax and simple be, such that nothing will ruffle or ruin those special, peace-filled moments. Like trying to meditate and getting frustrated for all the other thoughts that keep intruding in my mind, but instead, just noticing them and allowing them to leave as quickly as they came. I try to focus on my breath as I exercise, my simpler form of meditation, and I remind myself to just allow those intrusions to flow on by with my breaths–but it’s not easy! Sometimes I have complete to-do lists composed by the ends of my walks! Productive, yes, but not really what I had in mind for my morning exercise! But, like I tell my clients, we are all works in progress, aren’t we?

But I have learned something today, even on my vacation, that I will carry with me when I come back to reality. I will remember that young woman, and I will let the wet dogs kiss me, and I will not become unraveled, but hopefully I will see the joy in a small dog who is, like me, having a good time on vacation.