As a sensitive soul living amidst the hustle and bustle of NYC, I find refuge in the beauty and stillness of Greenwood Cemetery.  When visiting the cemetery earlier this week, I set a timer on my phone for 20 minutes.  I committed to the intention of immersing myself in my surroundings during this time, letting go, to the best of my ability, of all thoughts about my daily life.

I practiced letting myself melt into the magic of the natural world, getting lost in the tiny miraculous details.  The raindrops on an ivy leaf, the smooth, wet bark of a conifer tree, the sunlight glinting on a brown maple leaf in a puddle.  This practice of letting go of thoughts and resting in the experience of Being is nourishment for my soul. 

The wintry wind was strong and blustery as I hugged a tree.  I’m not sure what kind of tree it was, but it was tall, big, strong, and powerful in a serene tree sort of way.  I pressed my nose into her trunk and felt its bumpiness under my fingertips.  I brought awareness to the solid, supportive ground beneath my feet, as the wind swirled around me.  

I felt an expansive state of consciousness in this moment, a glimpse of what it feels like to be free from the prison of my own mind, who ensnares me in a constant, sticky web of thoughts in an attempt to protect me and keep me safe.

Our thoughts can be our greatest friends or our greatest enemies. 

My impression is that for many of us in our modern day and age, the thinking mind is a frequent source of torment.  Anxious thoughts, worried thoughts, hopeless thoughts, and self-critical thoughts are just a few of the ways our minds cause us anguish.  

Are we a victim of our own minds?  Can we free ourselves from this mental suffering?

There are many paths to reduce this suffering.  Countless books have been written, therapeutic modalities have been researched for efficacy, and spiritual teachings abound.  I don’t propose to have all the answers, nor am I of the opinion that there is only one right way.  

But I believe that part of the path is learning to be present in the richness of this very moment, with an open heart. We can learn to observe our thoughts as visitors, to recognize that thoughts don’t define who we are, and to relate to ourselves with ever deepening tenderness and compassion.