Seven days

The story

Seven days

Living in the present had become important to Steven. It was a constant challenge to remain aware of the moment. There had even been a time when this took on a passionate character, perhaps even an obsession. In an effort to change certain things in his life, he took a meditation course a few years earlier. It absorbed him, and he began meditating several times a day. Always wanting to have pure attention to each moment, it became a way of life.

It was a daily battle with himself to sit down and begin meditating, but after a couple of minutes, the struggle would fade. It made room for what truly lived within his body and mind. In some cases, his breathing became calm, and he relaxed. At other times, there was a whirlwind of thoughts, emotions, and physical discomforts to observe. It led to an intense experience. The “now” became important. His awareness of who he was grew by leaps and bounds.

Each day, something within his perception broadened, and the meditations grew deeper and more intense.

During that summer, he took the meditation course for a third time. This time not spread over several weeks, but condensed into seven days during a holiday week in a remote valley surrounded by dense forests, beautiful hills, and rivers. The meditations became more powerful than ever. For the first time, Steven truly felt alive. He could finally take pleasure in something. No matter how difficult the meditations were, the reward always came afterwards.

For seven days, he was surrounded by people who, like him, had gone through an exceptionally difficult period in their lives. As the week came to an end, an indescribable atmosphere of calm and connection filled the air. He hadn’t been this close to happiness in a very long time.