I hit the 8 hour mark where I was exactly half way across the globe between New York and Hong Kong. 8 more hours to go - what to do?
My back started to feel sore, I yearned to stretch my legs and go for a run! No one should be all cramped up behind a reclined economy class seat for 16 hours. My agitation started to rise.....
Instead of watching yet another movie, I closed my eyes. Somehow I remembered how I felt during the last days of my 10 day meditation retreat - how I could just close my eyes and almost automatically I was able to access a deeply calm, comforting and quiet space in myself.
No more excuses! No more complaints about not having the time to meditate!
I sat up tall, rolled a blanket behind my lumbar spine, raised my feet on my carry-on bag, rested my hands on my daughter's neck pillow, closed my eyes again and started observing my respiration. Within seconds, I was in a completely different space.
I am so grateful for this technique - simple, versatile, portable and readily available!
Then the flight attendants started pushing the food cart down the aisle and it was all over......