I meditated for 500 days in a row and here’s what I learned
This inspiring story has been written by a member of our community. We hope it provides encouragement for anyone looking to make meditation a daily habit.
500. No matter what the number is a reference to, it carries weight and significance. Sometimes 500 is so significant that it is unheard of.
Take a baseball batting average. In the 108 years of Major League Baseball (MLB), only one person has come close to batting a .500. MLB Hall of Famer, Ted Williams, who played from 1940-49, had a .482 career on-base percentage, which is the best of all time still.
I am no MLB player, but I did feel like I won the World Series when on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 (the day the first woman and African-American was elected Vice President of the United States), I realized I had hit a 500-day streak in my meditation practice.
Why was this such a big deal?
I have practiced meditation for nearly two decades, but have never come close to a 30-day streak, let alone 500 — my longest was seven days in 2019.
So, you can see why I was surprised and stoked when I hit 500. As I reflected, what started to come into view was not only the streak but the circumstances surrounding the streak.
September 2019 to January 2021 was one of the most trying times of my life to date. What happened, you ask? Oh, just a few things:
My dad died unexpectedly - October 6, 2019
A worldwide pandemic - March 2020
Racial unrest sparked by George Floyd's murder - Summer 2020
A mysterious bladder/kidney illness (that remains unsolved) - July 2020 - December 31, 2020
Riot at the White House - January 6, 2021
Through it all, my meditation practice has been a mental mainstay, a guiding light, and at times, a very comfortable and warm blanket that I would wrap myself in on the days when it seemed that everything around me was falling apart at a rapid pace.
When I mention to people that I am on a 500+ day meditation streak, I either get looks of wonderment or bewilderment. Those who are newer to the practice find it difficult to imagine stringing together 50 days, so 500 days seem otherworldly. For those who don’t meditate, spending 500 days "doing" something that involves little or no activity seems pointless.
The paradox of a big streak is that it is made up of small moments, taken one day at a time.
I didn't set out to reach a 500-day streak; I set out to commit 10 minutes per day to center myself. And truth be told, I built my streak on the back of 3-minute sessions, and worked my way up to 10+ minute sessions around month three.
More important than the number of consecutive days is the tangible benefits I have gained. My meditation practice has taught me four key things:
The power of pausing to reflect before responding
If there were nothing else to gain from starting or continuing a meditation practice, this alone would be worth it. The relationships saved and the drama skipped by merely learning to pause before responding is worth its weight in gold.
The ability to "see" and stay present with what's happening in my body and mind
When I was dealing with the mysterious bladder/kidney saga, each day I would be gripped with anxiety – Will there be blood in my urine today? If so, what would happen next? Did I have an undiagnosed disease? Would I end up on one of those medical mystery shows? This thought pattern went on for quite some time, and then one day, I decided that I didn't know what was wrong – no one knew – this was a fact. Ruminating and panicking made no difference to my condition. I decided I would focus all of my mental energy on being present – moment to moment. Every time my mind wandered, I brought myself back to center, a fundamental tenet of meditation.
A greater capacity for compassion
A wise woman once told me, "all bad behavior stems from fear or insecurity." This notion, coupled with the ability to pause before responding, has given me the mental space to seek and understand what's happening underneath the surface when I encounter difficult behavior - mine and that of others.
Access to a deeper level of gratitude for my life
In our hyper-connected, always be ‘on’ and always look your best, world; it's easy to feel like there is more to attain. We rarely pause to think about what we have already achieved, the many things we already have and can be thankful for. Through my practice, I have raised my consciousness and have found a new level of gratitude. I can be incredibly grateful for my life, just as it is - the warts and the beautiful parts.
In a recent Daily Trip meditation entitled Road Rage, Jeff Warren says: "Sometimes it helps to respond to life's challenges in a strong way; for this, it helps to take a few deep breaths first."
I couldn't agree with Jeff's sentiments more.
Over the past 500 days, my life—all of our lives—has been a challenge in one way or another. My mediation practice has been a sacred place that I have carried with me and have been able to drop into at a moment's notice. It has made all the difference, helping me keep my serenity when the waves of life crashed against my mental, physical and emotional shores.
So while 500 days straight is worth a pause and a bow of gratitude, tomorrow (on day number 583), I will find that stillness, that sacred place, and I'll sit again, and the waters of my inner world will settle. And you can too.
There is no secret to meditation, just willingness.
If you have a desire to cultivate stillness in a world that is always on-the-go, I encourage you to pause for a sit today. Just a few minutes will do. And do it again tomorrow and the next day.
Life's challenges will continue to come; that is something we can all be sure of. But I believe a meditation practice will help you build the mental and emotional resolve to better meet those challenges. Before long, I am confident you will discover the power of stillness, and you, too, will be on your way to hitting your 500-day mark and beyond.
About Shavonnah
Shavonnah is the Managing Director of SNR Creative, a Texas-based full-service marketing agency, a wellness enthusiast, a side-walk therapist, a baby stoic and paradoxically, known for her high-octane energy. She has chosen to see life as an exciting adventure in which she gets to participate and aims to fully embrace life with an open mind, a centered soul and a heart full of gratitude.
If you have questions about meditation or an interest in learning more about Shavonnah’s meditation journey, you can reach her at Shavonnah@snr-creative.com.
