My fingers run slowly through the wet sand, filled with minuscule amounts of coral reef, providing the tint which allowed the Bermuda sand to be called pink. I could feel the limestone I sat on as the warm June waves washed over my feet. I stood up, and began to walk towards the horizon, where the perfect blue of the ocean molded with the lighter blue sky, free of clouds. The expansive horizon, void of human footprint, served as a reminder of two things: 1) how small I was and 2) how small my island home in the middle of the Atlantic, 500 miles from the nearest land mass, was. As I walked further, the line of the sea rose from my feet to my waist. I dove forwards with my hands extended in front of me, serving as a guide. As the refreshing salt water surrounded me and I was fully underwater, my sensations were minimized, resulting in a mind completely clear and full of bliss. A present mind.

This is a memory from my childhood. For many years after I moved away from Bermuda, I returned to this memory in times of discomfort, chaos, or consternation. It served as a temporary escape from reality. Although, I didn’t realize the harm that came with dismissing difficult emotional situations and escaping mentally. Fortunately, I came across a quote by Blaise Pascal which read, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” I spent lots of time reflecting on this quote and how its meaning could apply to me.

Firstly, I decided I needed to spend more time thinking, alone and in quiet. Secondly, I realized that escaping from a difficult situation and going back to memories such as the one described above, only delayed suffering. I began to consciously stay present and embrace moments of discomfort or chaos. It was difficult at first, but with practice, like all things, it became easier. I began to be grateful for moments of discomfort, as they served as moments of presence. Moments of suffering became moments where I embraced what I was feeling fully, and was completely present. I encourage anybody reading to embrace this as I have, for it is life changing.