Sacred Silence - Post Week 2

Ding ding! And there's another seven days of "Sacred Silence" until the ten-minute bell! Hopefully a third of the way through our challenge, our volunteers are getting well versed in their meditation rituals. Shall we see?

How would you describe the meditation portion of your day/routine?
Samuel Gwosdy (Grade 9): "It will consist of either a guided meditation routine or listening to meditation music"
Troy Saldanha-Martins (Grade 10): "As of now, the meditation portion of my daily routine happens whenever I find the chance to fit it in. During this time I try to destress and calm myself."
Misheel Batkhuu (Grade 11): "Totally worth it. It really helps me debunk all my stress and worries by concentrating only on my breath. As cheesy as it is, getting in tune with my body, embracing my thoughts, and calming my mind, are all so soothing and I don't think there are another 10 minutes in my day I enjoy this deeply and sincerely."

Do you find that it's getting easier, harder, or neither when it comes to setting yourself up to meditate?
Samuel Gwosdy (Grade 9): "I find that it is getting easier when it comes to meeting myself up to mediate."
Troy Saldanha-Martins (Grade 10): "When it comes to setting myself up to meditate, it has not been easier nor harder."
Misheel Batkhuu (Grade 11): "I don't know if "easier" is the right word because it was never "hard." Maybe "more natural" fits better. I definitely feel that sitting myself down and beginning meditation (which I can now do comfortably in silence without a guide, which I once felt was so necessary and helpful) feels much more natural. Not just to my mentality, but also to my body as it prepares itself for the practice."

What effects does meditation have on you? (Could be anything from the typical "calms me down" or "reduces stress" to a blunt "stresses me out because it's so hard to coordinate the rest of my schedule around")
Samuel Gwosdy (Grade 9): "It calms me down and reduces stress."
Troy Saldanha-Martins (Grade 10): "Currently meditation calms me done when it is a low-stress day though I have not noticed that it reduces stress as of yet."
Misheel Batkhuu (Grade 11): "Let's go for the typical "calms me down" XD. I feel much less stressed and anxious. When I meditate midday or in the morning, I also benefit from disintegrating other symptoms of stress I might normally suffer from, like binge-eating or procrastinating. In addition, I've had excellent sleep (even if short hours) right after I meditate, so I can comfortably get out of bed at 5/6 am and start being genuinely productive day after day almost effortlessly."

What changes, if any, in perception or your life have you observed?
Samuel Gwosdy (Grade 9): "I have not noticed any changes in my life."
Troy Saldanha-Martins (Grade 10): "I have observed that since I meditate before bed I get better sleep and feel more refreshed in the morning."
Misheel Batkhuu (Grade 11): ""It will be okay." If I have the luxury of being able to stop and really breathe whenever I want to, if I could just remind myself that I can, then that's all I could ever need, isn't it? Everything is in my control, and time is not escaping me so long as I have my breath. Everything will pass. I don't have to stress about upcoming tests and exams because I will do everything I can to learn and study - a thought that then motivates me to indeed study hard. I only have to hold out a little longer. It will all pass - there's no reason to stress, only room to breathe:)"

Was ten minutes of meditation too little, too much, or just enough?
Samuel Gwosdy (Grade 9): "I found ten minutes of meditation to be a good amount of time to reflect on my day-to-day life."
Troy Saldanha-Martins (Grade 10): "I think that ten minutes is a sufficient time if done daily."
Misheel Batkhuu (Grade 11): "It felt like just enough, maybe even a bit too much, but I think I can go longer if I must. "

How do you feel about adding five more minutes of meditation?
Samuel Gwosdy (Grade 9): "I feel ok about the prospect of adding five more minutes of mediations and excited to see what that would add to my day to day life."
Troy Saldanha-Martins (Grade 10): "No real effect really however I feel once I add more time for the next week I may start to feel a difference."
Misheel Batkhuu (Grade 11): "Mmmmmm... you know what? I'm down! Let's do this."

Our challenge meditators now prepare to embrace a third week of meditation, with a daily time allotment of 15 minutes - stay tuned and keep roaring Mac! (while, of course, being mindful of some sacred silence:))

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