As a child, I became fascinated by a friend of my parents. This man exuded incredible calm. He and his wife would sometimes stay with us and he would get up at 5:30 in the morning, meditate for an hour and then run for half an hour. That made a huge impression on me. I did try that running once, but it was not a success. But the meditation always stayed in the back of my mind. I always thought, later, then someday I’ll go ….

From the age of 15 I started reading books about meditation and from the age of 18 I started doing it. However, I didn’t dare call it meditation, because I felt I was completely clueless about it and called it “I’m going to sit for a while.”

Now, years later, meditation is a regular part of my life. Every day I begin and end with meditation. I apply various meditation methods. Usually half an hour. Sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. Whether I exude that beautiful calm that started it all, others will have to say.

I do know that at least it makes me more balanced and happy. It allows me to look at myself and life with more distance. To experience that is something I would like to offer to others.

AND I have since learned that in Zen Buddhism, meditating on a cushion is also simply called “sitting” (zazen).