Thirty Days of Meditation

Today is December 30th, which means it is day thirty of my meditation challenge. It has been challenging for sure. There have been days where y mind hasn't stopped once, and there have been days that I didn't want to do it, and wanted to just give up. What has kept me going is the rewards I can't deny. I feel calmer overall, and I know it sounds so beyond cliche, but I really do feel more balanced. I feel like I've gotten better at responding, not reacting. I also notice that I'm able to turn around some negative thoughts. I remember one day last week I was going to Target for whatever. I wanted to catch the bus, and as I was walking to the stop, the bus drove on by, and I missed it. I started getting pissed, and frustrated and all of those bad feelings. Prior to this I had been in a pretty good mood. I decided to just walk, it isn't that far, and it wasn't raining, and it wasn't too cold. So just like that the light bulb came on, and I just wasn't pissed anymore. And the brisk walk in the fresh air actually made me feel better, gave me a shot of energy. I had a few situations like that where i just was able to look at the positive. It's like I'm able to acknowledge the negative, but focus on the positive.
I also am also more aware of all that I have to be grateful for. It's so easy to lose track. I'm ashamed to admit how many times I struggled to even think of more than one or two things to be grateful for.
I checked the weather Monday, and grey old Seattle is going to be sunny, as in cloud free sunny for the next five days! And then two more partially cloudy/sunny days before back to the rain! When I first saw that, my very first thought was, 2016 is going to be an amazing year. That is such a good sign to start it off sunny in Seattle! I haven't had faith in a New Year being any better than the last in I don't know how long. Honestly, I don't know if I've ever believed things were going to get better, or that maybe I could find happiness.
I'm continuing on with the meditation challenge. There is just too much evidence that meditation is having a positive impact on my life for me to ignore. Starting Friday January 1st, I will increase my time to ten minutes. I also hope to one day move to silent meditation, but for now I feel like I need the guidance. Maybe for month three I will try silent! It feels so great to have hope, and feel that energetic feeling of change!
Are you planning on any challenges for the new year?