what to do with the little unexpected things

Annabel at age 6

This morning I was required to spend time on something unexpected.  This took away from my normal routine, which includes, on Fridays, two half days with different pickup times.   With our kids in public school only two full days a week, I have less quiet time at home to get things done than anytime since they were babies, or home schooled.  I adore my kids.  I love my kids.  But I also crave solitude and quiet in the house, especially now that it is so rare.  And when I have it, I get things done a lot more effortlessly, and I can focus better.

Needless to say, this morning I never got to my meditation.

Annabel came home from school, the first one, after noon dismissal.   I ate a quick lunch and then announced that I was going to do my meditation.  Since I do this daily, the kids have become accustomed to this and respect that it is important to me.   

Annabel said she wanted to meditate with me.  That she was just thinking yesterday that she wanted to do it.  When we used to home school we meditated together most days.  For several months, we spent 1/2 hr doing a guided meditation for kids that she (and I) had learned.  It was really good for her.

So naturally when she asked to join me today after a long hiatus, I said sure.

We sat down for a 1/2 hour meditation.  Within a few minutes I could hear a loud buzzing of some sort of electrical machine right out my window, coming from the neighbors yard.  Just breathe, I told myself.  The noise would come and go unexpectedly.  Try as I could to not be attached to the blaring sound and find the peace within me, just like the monks do, despite all circumstances, I kept feeling annoyed.  Breathe, I told myself.  Breathe.  I was wondering how Annabel would react.  Surprisingly, she was peaceful.  

Three quarters way through our meditation, the noise finally stopped.  I was able to feel so much more peace and calm without the jarring to my nervous system.  I tried not to judge myself.  Breathe, I told myself.

Later Annabel and I talked about the noise.  "I was just imagining that each noise was the machine saying Om," she told me.  Amazing.   

Because when you think about it, this meditation experience is like life.  We practice meditation so that when we are stressed we can remember to be calm, to breathe through it, and find our center.  And what better way to grow spiritually than to roll with the unexpected!