Well… On Day 8, let’s write about freedom. Yep,  when my movement is restricted, I choose to think about freedom. Today, I found how refreshing it is to have a hot shower! Seriously… I can’t have a shower due to the infus cable..  but last night the nurses took out the infus needle out of my hand, and I am free! So after 5 days of no proper shower, this morning I was having the best time by showering!

I don’t think I am ever so appreciative about the freedom to have a shower until today. So in a way, restrictions actually remind me about the goodness of freedom.

After I got out of here, I would love to have freedom in my mind too… I don’t want my mind to be caged in resentment, anger, bitter remarks on anyone. I just read about the metta meditation on loving kindness again. It’s a cycle of prayer for all of us.

You start with a prayer for yourself. May I be safe, may I be happy, may I be free from suffering, may I know peace.

Then you say a prayer for someone who is easy for you to love, to open up the heart. May my husband be safe, may he be happy, may he be free from suffering, may he know peace.

Then a prayer for somebody you barely know at all, whose name you may not even know. May the man who brings me my food tray be safe. May he be happy, may he be free from suffering, may he know peace.

Then a prayer for someone who is difficult for you to love — never hard to find.

Then a prayer that all sentient beings be safe, happy, free from suffering, and in peace.

You don’t have to do the whole cycle of prayers in order for it to work. It’s like spot-cleaning your imagination.

When fear shows up, you simply interrupt the thought by saying, May I be safe, may I be happy, may I know peace

When an irritation or resentment arises toward another: May she be safe, may he be happy, may they know peace.

When shame or doubt or anxiety arises: May I be free from suffering . . .

Right there, in the moment, you can redirect your habitual negative thinking and free yourself from the prison of your mind.

A great practice, I hardly remember doing 😅.

So let this be the day when I start to throw prayers for myself and to others. May we all be safe and free from suffering. Amen.

Karin Sabrina