It makes such a difference in a person’s life when they find someone who is a great teacher.  That person’s life becomes so much richer, and they gain so much as they move down their path.  That happened to me when I discovered Thich Nhat Hanh and his teachings.  Thich Nhat Hanh was a Buddhist monk who guided so many people worldwide in their pursuit of meditation and mindful living.  He made a big difference in many people’s lives before he passed on in 2022, including mine.

I always had an interest in meditation and learning more about it, but it seemed like it would probably be difficult and more than what I wanted to take on.  The beauty, to me, in the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh is the pure simplicity of them.  He helped me learn about the incredible power of just simply focusing on my breath, breathing in and breathing out, and what a huge impact that simple act can have.  He taught me to just be still and breathe in and out, centering in my body and my awareness in the present moment.  Just to be present in this moment simply by focusing on my breath.

He taught me a lot about mindfulness.  How being fully present in this moment, aware of what is around me or what I am directly engaged in doing, opens me up to a level of beauty and joy that I had never experienced before.  He taught me that the only time I am truly alive is now, this present moment.  The past and the future are not here, only right now is where I can truly experience being alive.

Over time I have practiced these simple things and in doing that I have found a life of joy and peace and beauty that I had never known.  It has opened doors to so many new things I have discovered and appreciate and has become the very foundation of how I live each day.  I will forever be grateful to Thich Nhat Hanh and the impact he has had on my life.

Thich Nhat Hanh, besides being an incredible teacher, was also a very engaged activist and did much to promote peace in the world.  He was a prolific writer too and has written a lot of books and articles.  If you’re not familiar with his teachings, just Google him.  You’ll find a wealth of information out there.  Here’s a link to a simple article he wrote about mindful breathing if you’re interested.

https://www.lionsroar.com/thich-nhat-hanh-mindfulness/

I hope you experience peace and joy today!