How I Found Meditation

Meditation schmeditation.

At least, that’s how I used to feel whenever I heard the word meditation.

Sure, I could see that it helped some people, but mostly I figured it was a way for people to sit down for a few minutes and not have to work.

I mean, who couldn’t use a little bit of that in their day, right?

And then there were those people I saw at a local new-age church who were trampling on flowers as they ran in for meditation class.

You know, because they didn’t want to be late. (What the…?)

I didn’t get it.

Then I went on a business retreat and found meditation.

Yep. A business retreat.

In fact, it was a business retreat about the art of negotiation. Not exactly a place where I thought I’d learn how to meditate.

But that’s where it happened.

I was sitting next to a trucker from Texas, I know, I know. Again with the unlikely. I’m blowing up stereotypes all over the place over here.

Trucker man and I ended up having lunch at the diner across the street from our retreat venue.

Our conversation was about how we planned to grow our businesses and have incredible interactions with all of our customers and clients.

He started talking about how he meditates for at least 30 minutes every day, and how much that’s helped his business.

I set my French fry down (don’t tell anyone, but I used to eat those. A lot.), and turned to him.

“What? You meditate? I just don’t get it. I can’t turn my mind off, and I don’t think anyone else really does all the way, either. I mean…it’s just too hard.”

And that’s when he shared a little nugget with me.

“Look for the little blue ball.”

I just stared at him.

“Um… what on earth are you talking about?”

He went on to explain that once his eyes closed, he’d actively look through the black space for the little blue ball.

And then he’d find it, and think, “Oh! There it is!” which would of course make it disappear.

But over time, he learned how to just “be” with the little blue ball.

“It just feeds you. Just sit there and look at that beautiful ball, and it will feed you.”

I got chills.

Then I pulled my attention back to my sandwich and reminded myself that I was at a retreat to learn more about business negotiations and I should probably get back to class and leave trucker man to his burger.

So I did.

But that night, alone in my hotel room, I figured it couldn’t hurt to give it a shot.

So I did.

I sat there with my eyes closed, looking through space for that little blue ball.

And something amazing happened.

I found it.

And just like he said, I thought “Oh! There it is!” and BAM! It was gone.

It took me another five minutes to find it again, but I did.

This time I relaxed into the experience, and just enjoyed it. And you know what? He was right. That little blue ball fed me and fed me and fed me.

I have no idea how long I was in that meditation that night. But it was pretty awesome. I woke up refreshed, energized and ready to go.

I found trucker man and ran up to him.

“I saw it! I saw it! I saw the blue ball!” I squealed at him.

I went on to explain that it was more of an electric blue than I thought it would be, I had pictured more of a turquoise.

He nodded his head and shuffled his cowboy boots and said, “Yep. Bright, but deep blue at the same time, right?”

Yes! That was it! I was so amazed that we all see the same thing when we look for the little blue ball.

But I’m telling you, every time I look for it now, I find it.

I use this little trick every day.

I look for that blue ball when I’m working through a tough decision, or when I need to prepare for a talk I’m giving or when I need to have a difficult conversation.

I’ve even used it when I fly and I’m feeling sick. (I can get some brutal bouts of air sickness.)

That blue ball has pulled me through some pretty uncomfortable situations.

It never lets me down. Ever.

Never underestimate the things you can learn from your lunch partner. 😉

xo,
Sarah