Posted on December 24, 2009 - by Jennifer

30 Day Meditation Challenge: Day 17

Tuesday December 22, 2009:   I”m from a southern italian family and we celebrate the birth of Jesus with a big fish dinner on  the eve of his birth.  My husband grew up in India and his family is Hindu so no Jesus and no fish!  This year is the first year my husband and I are hosting Christmas Eve dinner at our house with his family and mine plus friends.  We have designed a menu that honors both vegetarians and non while adhering to the italian tradition (superstition?) that there must be an odd number of fishes.  His family (sister, brother-in-law, niece, mother, father) are staying with us.  So, in the days leading up to this event, things have been a little chaotic.  And chaotic is how I would describe my mental state during this meditation.  I really couldn’t focus  my mind at all.  It was leaping from laundering sheets to sea scallops recipes.  It  was calculating how many forks, knives, and spoons we own.  It was, in short, doing everything but focusing on chakras!  I tried to use the so ham mantra to settle things down but it just wasn’t happening.  I did experience a certain comfort from the ritual.  After 16 days, I think my body and mind have come to appreciate the 20 minutes of “quiet time”, the opportunity to be still.