The First Time

A meditation practice for beauty, gratitude and positivity

Many of you may be familiar with the Last Time Meditation whereby, as a path to gratitude and presence, you conjure the last time you might enjoy a treasured experience. In short, there will certainly be a last time for everything - a final conversation with a loved one or a last time that you carry your child to their bedroom. Thinking deeply on this reality can give us a strong sense of gratitude and help us fully connect with each moment in our lives.

I’ve recently developed a close cousin to the Last Time Mediation that I call ‘The First Time’ meditation. I’d like to describe it to you now.

I first stumbled upon this practice while perched above a stunning ocean bay. I closed my eyes and pretended that I had just now become conscious and thus had only experienced consciousness for a few moments with my eyes closed. But of course I didn’t know that my eyes were closed, because I didn’t know what eyes were. Remember, I had just moments ago been born into consciousness. Not only had darkness been my only experience, but I knew of nothing else. I didn’t know what breathing was, or what a body was, or what the sounds I was hearing were, or what hearing was. I literally knew of nothing. I only knew of what I could experience with my eyes closed.

I then opened my eyes as though for the first time. The light and colours rushed in for the first time. I could approximate things making sounds for the first time, but I didn’t know what was making the sounds. I didn’t know that wind was making the whirling sound, or that the ocean was making the sounds of waves lapping against the shore. I saw foreign objects I knew nothing of. In that moment, I experienced the beauty of consciousness without the social attachments or judgments of anything I was seeing. For a moment, I had no anxiety, no random thoughts. I was only thinking ‘holy shit’ what is this I’m experiencing? Remember, I don’t know about ‘seeing’ or ‘eyes’? Just experiencing a combination of light, colour, shadow and sounds. Pure awareness.

For a brief moment, I experienced pure beauty without obstacle, and it dawned on me that this practice can help us appreciate the miracle of being alive whenever we desire.

I find the First Time works best in nature. So you might find yourself in a park, or near a body of water, or looking at the sky. Simply close your eyes, and pretend that you have just been born into consciousness. You will probably notice the sensation of breathing, darkness and sounds for the first time. When you are oriented, open your eyes, and experience the world for the first time.

The First Time is a powerful tactic for gratitude, awareness and positivity. If you can get there, I think you’ll find that it brightens your day and makes you better able to make a positive impact in your relationships, your work and the world.  

Be well.✌️