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Do not disturb 20 minutes
Shannon Sliger
About 9 months ago, my meditation practice came to a very literal, screeching halt. In need of a 20 minute vacation again, I decided to turn my bathroom into a meditation space. When Tim walks in the door at 6pm, I hand Ilsa to him, slap this makeshift sign on my door and sit for 20 minutes.
The first day, I told Salter and Mary Elle, "don't bother me for 20 minutes." Very loving, I know. So a few minutes in, I am turning my senses inward, turning away from the periphery, and I hear the shuffle of tiny feet outside my door. The little person is very curious about a closed door. And the budding first grader, I presumed, can almost read the "DO NOT DISTURB 20 Minutes" sign. There was a minute of silence as she pondered the sign and the words I told her-but she came in anyway. She was in my room, on my bed, admiring her newest costume change in the mirror.
Ahhhhhhh-the point of meditation is that you should be able to do it on a cool, 70 degree day, by a stream with birds chirping, or in 110 degree heat, sitting atop a stinking, rotting pile of garbage. I made it 8 minutes the first day. Not so bad. It's gotten progressively better which is all you can ask.
Mary Elle has been inspired to create her own mini vacation signs as well.