Have you ever daydreamed of turning back the
clock to a more youthful, more energetic, more carefree time in life? Or
perhaps having at your disposal a magical cosmic Undo button that could erase
certain effects that have accumulated over the course of time—from stress,
abuse, or other erosive habits that have left you with less than perfect health
or a waning enthusiasm for life.
I experienced the need for a second chance at a
clean slate earlier in life than most. I was only 25 when I received a
diagnosis of cancer. That cancer was just the last in a whole host of serious
problems I’d had. Those of you who are familiar with my story know that I had a
horrendous childhood filled with sexual and emotional abuse. I’m certain I had
post-traumatic stress disorder by the time I was four. By my teenage years, I was
a complete wreck. At that point, I began doing everything possible to numb my
feelings and run from them—I smoked, drank, took drugs, and acted out
promiscuously. I was anxious. I was depressed. When my cancer announcement
came, it was really time for a change. By then, I needed some truly powerful
help to undo all that I had been through so that I could continue to live.
Amazingly, I found it—the way to turn back time
and release the many effects of all of the stress that my mind and body had
endured. That way was meditation. A daily practice of 20 minutes, twice a day,
gave me much more clarity to address my disease and ultimately helped me to
heal my cancer, release my addictions, and end my destructive streak and get on
my true life path. I can honestly say that meditation is the best thing I have
ever done for myself. So much so, that I haven’t missed a single day of it in
30 years.
