Finding more “me time” in the midst of modern mayhem

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Who doesn’t appreciate a little “me time” every now and then. After all, our days are full of meetings, messages and deadlines. Life is a constant exercise in juggling work, parenting, friendships and family.

I’ve been to Las Vegas once and got to see Jerry Seinfeld live. One bit was both hilarious and very true. He joked about how we are always either coming or going. We rush to get to our friend’s place and before you know it we are saying “look at the time, I’ve gotta go.”

No wonder we have an entire expression based on this: I don’t know if I’m coming or going. It’s only through my daily meditation practice that I’ve started to feel more at peace in the midst of the modern mayhem.

I was always looking for “me time”. Meditation and the practice of mindfulness has shifted this mindset. I’ve realized that “me time” is actually always with me, wherever I go and whatever I do.

Time spent in a meeting, doing an MBA assignment or reading a bedtime story to my kids can be “me time” if I’m fully present in that moment. And time spent jogging in the park all by myself or soaking in the bathtub can be lost if my mind is somewhere in the past or the future.

The change has been very gradual. It’s an overnight transformation that was a year in the making.