There’s this room where I’ve been going every day for the past three weeks, on the third floor of the Johnson Center at George Mason University.
I take off my shoes and sit down. To the outside observer, I’m not doing much. However, those 30 minutes are some of the most exciting, adventurous moments of my day. That’s because I’m meditating.
For those who don’t know, meditation is simply thinking about nothing. You attempt to empty the brain of thoughts and focus only on the slow rhythm of your breath.
It’s frightening at first–all those random thoughts begin flopping around nervously like fish out of water. Their presence had accompanied me through most of my conscious life, and it was disorienting to finally give them the boot.
But with persistence, this absence of thought became immensely enjoyable. When I finished my meditation and slipped on my shoes, I would feel like sitting among songbirds and writing haikus.
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