Each morning when I do my nature meditation, I do a nine-step process of inner focus. The second step is “anchor.” This morning my attention was arrested by this step. I became aware, rather in surprise, of how I was constantly balancing myself minutely in order to remain upright. I could feel the changing pressure on different areas of the soles of my feet. It was bitterly cold, and the cold threatened to penetrate my body. I thought, “My body has to work hard to balance the external cold, and it isn’t up to it this morning.” I retreated into the house.

A few minutes later, in the warmth of the house, I became aware of a column of concentrated balance that coincided with my spine. When I rest in the column of balance, I feel awake and aware, capable of “choice.” I feel a continuous, unbroken awareness.

Whereas before I had identified “anchoring” as having a solid, rock-like quality, I discovered that anchoring is a process of continual balancing, involving subtle adjustments in my body. This happens all the time without my awareness, or I wouldn’t be able to keep standing. When I add awareness to this balance, it becomes a means of maintaining conscious balance, a way for me to maintain mindfulness.

And– mindfulness matters to me.