Meditation? Mediation? Was My Mother Right After All?

{2:36 minutes to read} When I became a mediator, my mother did not understand why her supposedly down-to-earth daughter was now doing meditation, that is Medi-T-ation! She would keep asking me regularly with a semi-amused/semi-critical tone: “So did you meditate today?”

When I explained that I did not do meditation but mediation, that is Medi-A-tion, and tried to explain what mediation was, she was not quite sure what to say, and would move onto another subject because what I was saying was just “Too confusing.”

Well, little did we know that almost two decades later, daycare centers and nursery schools would incorporate meditation into their daily programs. My two and a half year old grandson wanted to teach me how to do “downward dog” the other day, and then sit in a circle, silent, with our eyes closed while breathing slowly in and out, in and out.

These days, young and old are incorporating some breathing techniques and meditation into their daily lives to help them deal with the many stresses they may be facing at work, at home or just sitting in traffic.

The other day I was working with a couple who got very upset with one another, and started raising their voices. I reminded them of an anecdote they told me of their 4-year old son showing his friend what he had learned in school: “Sit in a lotus position with your hands open on your legs and go huuuuuuuuum.” Visualizing their little boy doing this was enough to bring a smile to their faces and they started mouthing “huuuuuum.” (I was sure hoping that I would not have to get into a lotus position myself!!) Their impromptu “meditation” calmed them down almost like magic.

As they left, I remembered my mother and thought that maybe she was not so far off in her thinking. Meditation and Mediation may just have to be connected!

Next time you are feeling upset and tense, take a moment to just imagine a cute little cross-legged 4-year old saying “hummmmmm.” You will be amazed at how much better you feel.

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Jennifer Safian

jennifer safian. divorce and family mediator
divorce and family mediation
upper east side of manhattan (nyc)
new york, ny
(917) 881 5206
jpsafian@gmail.com