We are so honored to publish this poem, written by The Path Meditation Teacher Training graduate Karla Preissman of The Pause Center for Mindfulness.

Karla wrote this during the teacher training course, for her “Path Forward” project —when students are invited to think about how they want to share mindfulness or meditation when they graduate from the program. We are very moved by this poem and hope you enjoy:

Just This

May I plant myself in the promise of the pause

and invite my best self to grow up through the beautiful silence

May I breathe with awareness, listen with curiosity,

observe without judgment

May I touch only with kindness,

honoring heart, mind, body

May I speak gently — with compassion — both to you and about you,

to myself and about myself

May I intentionally recognize our shared humanity

and quietly make space for you to unfold beside me

May I do just this:

may I plant myself firmly in the promise of the pause

and let myself be softened