What gives me joy

Joy is one of the gifts that meditation has given me. It’s almost like the deeper I go into meditation, the more “different” the world becomes. Nature, especially, looks more beautiful. Sometimes even small things — like the fluttering of a butterfly crossing my path, or the smile of a child, or the happiness of a community — can touch the deep recess of my being. In the same vein, the destruction of the environment, the pain of the farmers, can equally hurt. It’s almost like situations take on an extra intensity.

For me joy comes with freedom — when I have no fears, when I feel I can spread my wings and fly. One of my favorite songs is I Believe I Can Fly, the lyrics of which go: “I believe I can fly… I believe I can touch the sky... I think about it every night and day... Spread my wings and fly away...”

This is what gives me joy:

• Talking in front of a crowd, feeling their energy, their idealism, their openness. Feeling Divine Energy surging through me to their hearts. Oh, this is bliss.

• Feeling a community transforming, and committing to values I hold dear like integrity, compassion, working together. This, too, is bliss.

• Seeing the possibilities becoming real. My great joy is removing poverty. The prospect of lives coming up sends me on a high.

• Feeling the crystal-clear waters of Sibuyan — swimming in splendor, feeling the sun, feeling the air and just sinking in all of that. Sigh... Utter bliss.

• Singing (not that I sing well, mind you). But singing a really nice song, and giving it all I’ve got makes me really happy. I just get shy when I go out of tune, but some songs give me real joy.

• Playing. I love to play, and have fun. Something deep inside me just didn’t grow up. I actually like playing Hide and Seek, Patintero, Habulan, being like a child. I like laughing and good jokes.

• I like it when people are happy. When I am with my staff and everyone is joking or singing, or even my driver; my siblings or my kids; even my household help. My heart lifts when everyone is happy.

To recap: life is beautiful. It’s not the situation, it’s the way you look it that gives each moment depth.

With this in mind, I would like to invite you to a meditation workshop at Luna Gardens in Rockwell on Oct. 15. Exercises will teach you how to still your mind, how to relax your body, how to feel energies. I hope you can take the time. The practice has proven to be invaluable to my life, not only in terms of depth, but in terms of function. What I learn in meditation has deep utility and value. Enjoy.

If interested call Mitch Tacata at 0915-2936211 or e-mail meditatemanila@gmail.com. The cost is P3,500 inclusive of a simple lunch and a light snack.

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I can be reached at regina_lopez@abs-cbn.com.