Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N T A N A • W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 56 sent his answer back, courtesy of his translator Justin Kirkwood. He said that "Some of the ways that we can practice medita- tion are particularly well-suited for Montana. For example, we have meditation where you are instructed to gaze at the sky, ones where you should sit on top of a mountain, and others where you should be alone in a forest, all of which would be hard to practice if we were in a big city like New York, but which are perfectly suited to Montana... I haven't been to too many places around Montana, but with its clean air, mountains, natural beauty, and vast, open skies I think that it is a great place to meditate." So, in the middle of the beautiful location in the Jocko Valley, I sat cross-legged (maybe the first time I've done so since third or fourth grade) and put my fingers into what I assumed was a med- itative pose. I closed my eyes, straightened my back, and tried to empty my head of thoughts. I heard the flapping of prayer flags, and the cry of a circling bird of prey overhead. Trying not to focus on any particular thought, I focused instead on what it felt like to breathe and remembered another thing Elaine had told me: "Your mind might wander off to your thoughts, and that's not a problem. You're still going to be aware of sounds that you hear in the background, but you're keeping your attention on your breath and if your attention goes somewhere else, it's no problem. Just gently refocus back onto your breath." So I do. And before I know it, ten minutes have passed, and then twenty. And I have to admit, almost begrudgingly, that I feel very calm, refreshed, and aware. Is it from the brisk air? The exercise I got walking around the perimeter of the Garden? Or is it from the simple meditation I've just performed? Will I keep trying it? I think I might. Should you? Should all of us who might be feeling a little anxious these days? Maybe we should. After all, anything that makes us more aware of how lucky we are to be living here in Montana, and makes us feel better too, can't be wrong. RENEE CARLSON (2) Some of the ways THAT WE CAN PRACTICE MEDITATION ARE PARTICULARLY WELL-SUITED FOR MONTANA Find your inner Montana mindfulness... www.distinctlymontana.com/mindfulness211 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL

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