Car Living & Meditation

It seems to me that these days religious or spiritual practice or anything even sparking a whiff of something other than the apparently solid here and now has a rap that has gone from bad to downright dangerous. In this writer’s opinion, it often feels like it doesn’t matter the religion – you’re either in or your out. It doesn’t have to be a dinner table conversation, but quite often it is. And it divides. And it definitely tries to conquer – on both sides. More often though, we just let the topic hide under the table and ignore it.

So, what does this have to do with all my midlife mile shenanigans? You’ve probably noticed that I mention meditation quite a bit in my blogs and elsewhere. Finding quiet places and spaces to meditate has been a priority for me since well before I sold my home. For me, meditation also happens to be part of a spiritual practice. But, it is a mistake, I believe, to think that meditation, mindfulness, or even prayer must be attached to a religion.

For a long time now, I’ve thought that there are as many religions and relative ways of believing and seeing reality as there are humans. No two of us can practice or perceive in exactly the same way. Sure, we are offered one size fits all recommendations, but it is up to each of us. It is in each of us. And I have finally come to realize that how I do it – well, that’s the right way for me. Yep – same goes for you!

I once read that snipers in the armed services are given mindfulness training. Gee – I should hope so. Seems that finding the still point within would be a good way to well…hold a gun steady. And yet, we read articles here and there about schools that are asked to abandon mindfulness programs. And, often we equate simple meditation practice within a larger religious context and disqualify it as a potential method for healthful living.

All I can do is relate the extraordinary benefits that meditation practice on its own has brought into my life, especially since I have begun full-time car living. First – just sitting and being without distractions (um, yeah – not looking at my phone for 20, or even just five, minutes) provided me with a tool for relaxing my stressed out body and mind. And, you don’t even have to call it meditation. Call it – just sitting. Just go and sit, without a phone, without an agenda.

Once I started doing this regularly, things in my life really opened up, my body became healthier, and I think I even started to look better! Somewhere along the way, my priorities changed and I became less glued to all the agitations around me (hence lowering my borderline blood pressure which has NOT gone back up). When my job went poop on me and I went a little bit crazy, I just sat. And…things slowly got a bit more grounded. Ultimately, well you know the rest. I sold my home, let go of “needing” to work to feel like a contributing member of society, and headed out to the less populated areas of our country to just … go and sit. It was definitely not a spiritual practice, but rather one that helped me to get to know my own mind and feel more connected to the world around me.

The most interesting stories I have to tell about my travels are not the usual ones we hear about visiting this landmark or meeting up with that group. I could tell you about the crows that show up wherever I go and how the love I feel in those moments grows from the interconnectedness I feel with them. Or I could write of the whole days that have gone by without me doing anything at all – just living in wonder. One of my greatest adventures was the day I fell in love with a fly, who came to visit and rested on my finger for more than 20 minutes as I sat in stillness.

On a very practical note, I would say that it took a while to figure out what meditation as a full-time traveler looked like for me. I think that for anyone who wants to travel and devote time to quiet reflection, prayer, meditation – whatever you’d like to call it – it is essential that you don’t become fixated on doing it “right.” What may have worked in your home, may not work on the road. If you like to set aside a place with certain implements, you may feel obligated to do it in a certain way. I say – intention is everything. It doesn’t matter if everything is set up perfectly, or perfectly quiet, or perfectly anything. Your space could be an aspen grove, your altar the horizon, your still point a fly on your finger. And that goes for sticks and bricks dwellers, too!

I find that I have to put forth a little effort to maintain my daily meditation practice, and this often means making sure I do at least a little first thing in the morning. Even if I’m in a Cracker Barrel parking lot and there’s a long day of travel ahead, I try to meditate for a little while before hitting the road. And, I definitely try to find places to stay long term so I’m not on the road a whole lot.

My hope is that by writing about my own way of being, others who want to live on the road but are concerned about finding time for quiet (insert word of your choice) may have comfort in knowing that it can be done. In fact, I have flourished in all the ways possible in my life and I feel this has been a direct result of following my heart, continuing to meditate, and letting the road ahead reveal itself as it will.

So…no quick-witted ending to this one. Just lots of love and hope for your well-being and peace of mind in this challenging world.

Want a first hand glimpse into my car-living meditation life? Check out Midlife Mile - Car Living and Meditation on youtube.

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