It’s around 9 p.m. now.
The house is quiet. My phone is face down. The lights are softer than usual.
This is the moment I protect the most.
Not because it’s productive.
Not because it checks anything off my list.
But because it feels like a doorway.
The space between doing and sleeping.
The space between who I was today and who I get to be tomorrow.
Morning and evening have always been my favorite parts of the day. And meditation is what gently holds them together.
The Magic of Transitions
There’s something special about transitions.
The moment when you wake up, before the world rushes in.
And the moment when you lie down, after the noise finally fades.
I first noticed this years ago while reading Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe. He wrote about how powerful these in-between states are, when your mind is softer, more open, less guarded.
And honestly, I felt it long before I could explain it.
When I wake up and sit on my mat, still half wrapped in sleep, I don’t feel rushed. I feel receptive.
When I meditate at night, I don’t feel like I’m ending the day. I feel like I’m returning to myself.
Have you ever noticed how different you feel during these moments, compared to the middle of the day?
Morning Meditation, Meeting the Day Gently
In the morning, meditation feels like a welcome.
I sit.
I breathe.
Sometimes I barely open my eyes.
That transition from sleeping to being awake is delicate. It’s when I feel most alive, not in a loud way, but in a clear one.
This morning, I did 20 minutes of gratitude meditation. Nothing fancy. Just breath, a few words, and an honest scan of what feels full in my life.
And it changed everything.
I went cycling afterward feeling lighter. Stronger. More present. Not because my legs were better, but because my mind wasn’t crowded.
Meditation doesn’t make the day perfect.
It makes me meet the day as I am.
Evening Meditation, Coming Home
Evening meditation feels different.
It’s quieter. Deeper. Sometimes emotional.
After a full day of movement, conversations, decisions, and effort, this is when I finally hear myself again.
I often light a candle. Sit on the floor. Sometimes I lean against a cushion or wall, no strict posture, no pressure. Comfort matters here. A soft meditation cushion or a folded blanket makes a difference, not as a product, but as an invitation to stay a little longer.
This is when I feel connected.
Not just calm, but connected.
To something bigger than my to-do list.
To a version of myself that isn’t performing.
I’ve always believed there’s a larger energy holding this universe together. And in the evening, especially when I look up at the night sky afterward, I feel that truth in my body, not just my thoughts.
Meditation Is More Than Calm
A lot of people think meditation is just about calming down.
And yes, it does that.
But for me, it does so much more.
Meditation helps me:
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Feel whole, even when life feels messy
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Reconnect with my higher self, the part that knows what matters
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Stay grounded during hard seasons, not just good ones
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Feel grateful to be alive, in a real, embodied way
I’ve practiced meditation since late 2018. Years now. And still, every time I sit, I learn something new about myself.
That’s the thing. Meditation isn’t a finish line. It’s a relationship.
The Quiet That Strengthens You
What surprises most people is this.
Meditation doesn’t make me sleepy or passive.
It strengthens me.
The quiet moments are what carry me through the loud ones.
When the day gets demanding.
When training feels heavy.
When work stretches me.
Because I’ve already met myself in stillness.
Sometimes I journal right after, just a few lines. Having a simple notebook by the bed helps me release what I don’t need to carry into sleep. Other nights, I put on a soft eye mask and let the body fully rest, signaling that it’s safe to switch off.
None of these are requirements. They’re gentle supports. Small rituals that make the practice feel human, not rigid.
Gratitude as a Way of Living
That gratitude meditation this morning stayed with me all day.
I felt it while cycling.
While working.
While sitting here now, writing this.
Gratitude isn’t something I force. It’s something meditation reveals.
When you slow down enough, you notice how much is already okay. How much is already beautiful.
Even on hard days.
Especially on hard days.
If You’re New to Meditation
If meditation feels intimidating, let me say this.
You don’t need:
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A perfect routine
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A silent mind
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Long sessions
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Spiritual language
You just need a few quiet minutes and honesty.
Sit on your bed.
Sit on the floor.
Sit in a chair.
Breathe.
Notice.
Stay curious.
Morning or evening, both are powerful. Choose the one that feels easiest to begin with.
A Gentle Ending
Tonight, as I get ready for bed, I feel grateful.
Grateful for breath.
For movement.
For the quiet.
Meditation didn’t give me this life.
It taught me how to feel it.
And maybe that’s the real gift.
Not escaping the world, but meeting it with an open heart.