Dear Babs,
I wanted to write to you as I’ve been contemplating my meditation practice and how it’s helped me in my life over the past few years since I first took your course, and how much my life has changed, with ups and downs, but through it all, meditation has been an amazing tool for me. The free monthly meditation & knowledge gatherings for all students who have taken your course are so helpful for getting and/or staying on track with the daily meditation practice you taught us.
I have had a really hectic few months where I’ve been working loads and juggling lots of things and I’ve fallen off the bandwagon now and again where my meditation has gone out the window haha. But as always, you’ve taught me that without judgement or regret, it’s always there for me to come back to.
The year I met you and first took the course, my life completely transformed – so much so that I still to this day think of it as the time that I “woke up” after years of “sleep-living”. I went through enormous growth and change and I honestly feel that I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for you.
Life is full of ups and downs, and I have gone through months of not meditating (or just meditating once in a while) to then coming back to it again, where I can feel the dramatic difference of how I show up in the world, how I can handle things and deal with life in general when I am meditating consistently. I have been thinking about what you said before about there being two reasons that people fall out of their meditation practice – when you’re in a bad place, feeling very down and when you’re coasting – life’s good and you feel you don’t really ‘need it’ and just forget to keep it up!
Last year was a particularly difficult year for me where I really struggled with my mental health and very low self esteem and just fell out of meditating consistently… and when I did meditate my mind was so busy and messy and they weren’t very gratifying (I used to think that I was doing it wrong until I retook your course and learned that whether it’s gratifying or not, it’s still having a profound affect). It’s taken me over a year to get back to a place where I’m feeling much better in myself and I’m very grateful to have mental wellness and feeling much happier now, but I had to laugh – oh no! Now I’m coasting!! Haha!
Meditation has always been with me; I’ve never completely lost it, but it’s just keeping a consistent practice that I’ve found difficult because I can be a bit chaotic and all over the place! But I’ve started being more consistent again with my practice and I know it’s something that really benefits me and even though life can be hectic, it’s something that I know is such a powerful tool that helps me no matter what I’m going through or how I am feeling.
I feel so positive and so grateful to be alive! I just wanted to say that I’m really grateful to have met you and for being introduced to meditation through you. Taking your course honestly was life-changing and has always stayed with me since as an important part of my life. I admire what you do so much, all of the care and support you offer to everyone who takes your course.
As I write this I have to confess that I missed this morning’s meditation (I lost track of time and had to run out the door!!) but I had a beautiful meditation this evening, and tomorrow is a new day.
Grá mór and míle buíochas Babs <3
Róisín Nic Giolla Rua xx 2024
