I was rummaging through my desk drawer this morning, trying to find thank you notes, when I found a page with a short journal entry from December of 2001. It is as if my younger self was speaking to me today and I wanted to share it with you.

“Our only satisfaction must be to live in the present moment as if there were nothing to expect beyond it. Because there is nothing beyond this moment.”

“I will try this day to live a simple, sincere and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity and self seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, charity and the habit of holy silence; exercising economy in expenditure, generosity of giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust and a childlike faith in God.”

I am not sure where this quote came from but I do know it should be attributed to someone and my apologies to the source.

I have been thinking about a meditation for the new year. A meditation I have used in the past was based on a Buddhist tradition of the empty bowl.
It used the concept of the monk’s empty bowl. The bowl was carried on each days pilgrimage and whatever offering was placed in the bowl was what was used that day.
This meditation was one of being open to whatever came my way,
to be less judgmental and more aware of daily gifts.
But this year, I want to consider the filled bowl – a vessel overflowing with possibilities. The idea of abundance to be shared, to be filled with compassion and mercy. This year will be the year of giving more – more love, more justice, more compassion, more……everything. The new years meditation will be the filled vessel, overflowing with our greater good,  and I hope that this year brings to you this abundance as well.