Beginner’s Mind for the Holidays

First’s hold a special place in our memories.
The first time you held your person’s hand.
The first kiss.
The first taste of a new city.
The first look on the kids faces when they see the presents under the tree…

These moments seem to suspend time and become etched in us. I listened to the most wonderful meditation the other day. It reminded me of the freedom of what Zen Buddhism calls ‘Beginner’s Mind’.

Most of us walk through the day silently (or not) casting our views and opinions out onto just about everything and everyone. Even — perhaps especially — those we are closest too.

It’s so easy to focus on a noise someone makes, a habit that annoys us or cast judgment on their actions. Maybe we waste all the wonder on the new, leaving what we have — and once longed for — feeling stale.

That meditation reminded me that my partner and I spent the first couple of years getting to know one another from opposite ends of the country. 
Time together in the same city was precious. So full of curiosity. So new. So exciting and without hint of judgement.

What a gift.

There was a song I had on repeat during many of those days apart. One line sticks in my head:

“What I’d give to make you coffee… find out how you like your eggs.”

When you are apart from someone you love, a line like that can gut you.

Now we get to wake up everyday for coffee together AND she makes my eggs without fail every morning. It’s the simple things, that if I’m not careful to open up my ‘Beginner’s Mind”, I might forget.

So with ‘Beginner’s Mind’, I hereby re-enter into the craziness of Christmas and the Holidays with..

A little more gratitude while wrapping my kids gifts… and little less worrying if I have everything.

A little more anticipation of them tearing off the paper… and less stress about what else ‘needs’ to be done.

A little thought about how awesome it is to go cut the tree down with my girls, strap it on the car ourselves, cut the limbs off the bottom, and enjoy the beautiful lights… and a little less annoyance at the mess it might make.

A little more awe at the fact that I have a good business and we meet and help the most wonderful people everyday… and a little less stress about closing for the Holiday week.

And finally, a lot of laughter… and a lot less distraction.