Last week I wrote about weather – and how we create our own atmosphere to carry around with us, influencing the events of our days. Then Ohio, where I live, was graced with an amazing display of weather – not of MY creating – with 60* and sunshine one day and, literally, 10*/horizontal 30 mph winds/sleet/snow the next … and 55* 2 days later! Mother Nature certainly reinforced for me that moods – like weather – can change instantly. Since I am part of Nature, I can do the same.

BUT … this  past week also introduced another element into the MKMMA experience for me. SILENCE. Never will you realize what a noisy world we live in until you purposely embrace silence! We were offered the “assignment” to engage in silence for as long as we could – hours, days even … with the intent of quieting our inner chatter as well as the outer cacophony of life – to meet the truth and our true selves within.

I began with a few hours at the end of the week’s webcast. All electronics off, no speaking (didn’t realize how MUCH I talked to my 4-leggeds!). It was peaceful and elegant.

It has become a habit now to be more silent than not when I am at home. (The nest is empty, except for the above-mentioned 4-leggeds). Noise is nearly intrusive!

My longest foray into the world of silence was over the weekend, after I’d notified my family of what I would (and would NOT) be doing from Friday evening until Monday morning. Unplugged. I did a lot of reading and even more “sitting” (our term for meditating and reflecting). Sitting and thinking became the punctuation pauses throughout the days.

I read and reread “The Four Agreements” and “The Fifth Agreement” by don Miguel Ruiz. Those agreements correlated so seamlessly with the beliefs and habits of our MKMMA experience that implementing them into my life will be easy. Do you know the agreements?

1. “Be impeccable with your word” – “I engage in no transaction that does not benefit all whom it affects.” – from the Blueprint Builder

2. “Don’t take anything personally” – Others have their own “world within” that shapes their “world without” (just as I do) and it has nothing to do with me.

3. “Don’t make assumptions” – ask questions to be clear. How easily we all slip on this one.

4. “Always do your best” – “In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult”, “I am not on this earth by chance … I am here for a purpose”, “I live this day as if it is my last.”, “Today, I will be master of my emotions.” (The Greatest Salesman in the World – Og Mandino). My best will change moment to moment (like the weather?) yet, in EACH moment I commit to doing my best.

5. “Be skeptical, but learn to listen” – fits right in with #2 and #3. The truth doesn’t come with words – it comes in the silence. There is where we make our decisions, so listen, reflect, decide.

Silence, for me, is not empty. It’s HUGE! I’ve decided that, since it’s Lent, I’ll embrace silence instead of giving up something. And I know I’ll continue long after Easter. “When I perform it often it becomes a habit and I become its slave and since it is a good habit this is my will.” (Scroll I)

… and on a lighter note … my MKMMA experience is showing me what a multi-layered existence I live! And – since I’m definitely a “dessert girl” – this news is just

DELICIOUS!

See you next week! shhhhhhhhh ……