Day 2: The Frost-Covered Path and a Joyful Mirror

Part 1 of 3 (Being)

This section opens Day 2 of the retreat. The silence was no longer unfamiliar. My mind felt less frantic. Something had softened.

The morning brought stillness. It felt like peace without condition. And yet even here, a deeper question stirred: Can peace itself turn into suffering when we attempt to cling to it?

And then a reminder… that we don’t have to take everything so seriously. And joy doesn’t need a reason.

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Day 2: Just As It Is

(Being)

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The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.

— Carl Rogers, On Becoming a Person

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The Frost-Covered Path

I rolled over onto my back. The sheets pressed lightly against me as I stirred. I slowly opened my eyes. It was still quite dark in my room, except for the faint glow of red-light coming from the digital alarm clock. I wondered what time it was. Before I looked, I noticed how refreshed I felt, how well I slept. This was unusual for me. I lay there for a little while, feeling the stillness and quiet of the room. I glanced at the clock: 4:49am. How exquisite! I hadn’t set an alarm the night before, wondering what time I might wake up naturally.

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