BY: Cory Donde
We all live in a digital age where constantly looking at a screen is far from unusual. We have screens that we use for class, screens for entertainment, and even screens in our pockets for on-the-go use. Before delving into my article, I want to make it clear that this isn’t a rant you would see from your aunt on Facebook about, “When I was your age I played outside and etc…” I just want to tell a story of an event this past week that affected me, and I hope can reach out to others.
On Friday, September 20, I arrived at the Nest at 11:50 a.m. I was going to meet up with an AUM club to write an article about them, but when noon arrived, nobody had shown up. I confirmed earlier that week that I was indeed in the correct meeting place and that the weekly meetings occurred at noon, but I just imagined that maybe the club members were just running late. I took a seat inside of the Nest, put earbuds in, and began to wait while listening to some music.
I waited for approximately 10-15 minutes and began to wonder if anyone was going to show up at all, so I decided to go outside for a while and enjoy the weather, which was beginning to finally feel like fall. I wasn’t mad that nobody had shown, but my patience was beginning to wear thin. I believe we all have boundaries when it comes to patience, and sometimes the patience is broken to the point where we have to leave or just turn to anger. Knowing that anger leads to hate, and hate is the path to the dark side, I decided to walk for a little while since the weather was permitting.
As I walked, I saw the Confucius Gardens. I hadn’t been to the little area since the campus tobacco ban, so I decided to visit. A couple years ago, I used to visit the garden and meditate, just for long enough to calm my nerves from the stresses of school and to reflect on events that had recently passed. Remembering this old tradition, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try again, so I stopped my music, removed my hat and shoes, and sat in the well groomed grass in the middle of the garden.
After taking a couple of deep breaths, I closed my eyes and began to feel at peace. I heard the birds chirping, leaves in the trees rustling, and the stream from the garden’s waterfall flowing. I felt the sun on my skin and the gentle breeze blowing. It was a surreal experience that I had seemingly forgotten in the process of adhering to schedules and burying myself in my technological world that I am accustomed to. What seemed like only a few minutes became an hour, and I returned back to my music and drove home to prepare for work that night.
My story will impact people differently. I know some who read this will find it odd, and some will possibly think it quaint. The main reason I wish to tell it though is that sometimes it is important to take a step away from our bustling lives and remind ourselves that we are human and part of the larger world around us. If you wish to meditate like I have, you can do it wherever you feel comfortable: your dorm or home, a local park, or the garden I visited right in front of the Nest. It is a refreshing experience that can help cleanse your mind from the stresses we face on a daily basis.
However, while I find meditation a peaceful and relaxing experience, do not mistake it for a substitute to seeking help if you are suffering from depression or unhealthy thoughts. If you need help, please seek it from the Counseling and Health Promotion Services on the third floor of the Taylor Center. They are professionals who will help you more than just meditation alone can. Otherwise, try to do yourself a little favor and take a couple minutes out of your day to disconnect from technology and absorb your surroundings. It may take the edge off a stressful semester, even if only a little bit.