Mindfulness is atop a ball on the water

There is a ball on the water

large and round

you lay atop it

stomach down

trying to balance

and stay still

waves come and …

mindfulness is like this

balancing atop a ball on the ocean

we lose our balance, flail, and thrash

and splash, slip under

and rise

We doubt and are discouraged

and then find our way back on top

temporarily stable

growing more skillful

responding to small waves

the cycle repeats

but we keep trying

the world sees the splashing, thrashing failures

we sometimes feel the calm of temporary success

get distracted and slip back off

we overcorrect

we undercorrect

we try again

mindfulness is a practice

staying calm in the moment

present

poised

alert, skillful

slowly improving