The Art of Simply Being

I remember the exact moment when I truly understood what “Being” means.

It was one day in May, 2020, amidst one of the strictest lockdowns enforced by a country during the pandemic. I found myself stuck in Panama, renting a cabin in the woods up the hills of Boquete, a small mountain town in the north of the country. Women were only allowed to go out of the house for two hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and men on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. My time slot based on the last digit of my passport was 2:30-4:30, and that’s just enough time for me to trek down to town, visit the market, gather groceries and make the uphill hike back. There were check points everywhere. If you got caught outside of your time slot and day, you would be sent to jail.

You would think, for someone like me, who’d been traveling around the world for a year, changing places every few days at the time, getting stuck in a cabin all alone would be beyond miserable. I thought so too, at first.

That day in May, 2020, when I was on my way back from getting my groceries, somewhere between 2:30 and 4:30, it started raining. It was the rainy season of Panama, and almost guaranteed, it would rain every afternoon, but for some reason, I had forgotten my umbrella. When the rain started falling, I was walking along the foot of the mountain, my backpack full and heavy. The rain fell upon me, the kind of rain that gently kisses your skin without hurting it. The kind of rain that's nearly the same temperature as your body, so it doesn't startle you, not even a shiver, just a comforting warmth. Strangely, it made me feel... safe.

Along the path, a single plant on the roadside caught my eyes, its big leathery leaves glistening in the rain. Unconsciously, I stopped to watch this plant. Raindrops gently fell upon it, dancing and gliding across the surface of the leaves, tracing paths down to the ground, again and again. I can’t recall how long I stood there, I just knew that by the time I left, every inch of my skin was soaked. It was as if time had paused, allowing us to meet, gaze into each other’s eyes, wordlessly existing together for a fleeting moment within the river of time. I believe that was the instant when I realized my mind held no thoughts. The rain, the heavy backpack, the dampness, the mud beneath my feet—none of it bothered me. All I sensed was that everything was absolutely, perfectly as it was supposed to be.

For the next 4 months, I lived in solitude in the mountains, with barely any human interaction.

Every few days, I would trek down to town, visit the market, get groceries, and hike back. Each time, deliberately leaving my umbrella behind, and spending a few moments in the presence of that plant, rain or shine.

My time in the cabin was spent among meditation, yoga, cooking, reading and learning. In that mountain town, power would go out quite frequently. With no TV, no internet, and by then, I hadn’t had a sim card for 2 years, I would simply sit on the porch, listening to the sound of the flowing stream, watching humming birds seeking shelter from the rain, and simply exist without the need to do anything at all.

Years later, I found myself living in one of the biggest cities in the world, trying to find my life purpose and a way to give back to Mother Earth. With the myriads of energies surrounding me, my mind often wanders back to the cabin in the mountains of Boquete and, especially, that plant. I carried that sentiment with me like an anchor, and it allowed me to take a deep breath and continue my journey with a bit more serenity.

Every now and then, I would take a day out of my urban life to just be. A day of mindful actions to embrace the exquisite simplicity of existence. I called it my “Being Day”. As my healing journey continues and my soul path becomes clearer, I find myself having more and more of these "Being Days" as they have woven themselves into the very fabric of my essence. “Being Days” have gifted me the abundance of profound peace and allowed me to show up in the world in a manner that deeply aligns with my true self.

“Being Day” has brought immense joy into my life, and I started to wonder how I can share this tranquility with the world. With gratitude in my heart, with love as my compass, the concept of a “Being Day” experience came to me. By merging intentional actions with healing practices, we create space to slow down and savor the essence of existence and the art of holistic well-being. If you are wondering what a “Being Day” experience looks like, I invite you to explore it further here.

Each 'Being Day' is not just a pause; it's a symphony of existence, a celebration of the delicate balance between self-discovery and harmony with the world around us. I hope that as each of us continues on our own soul path, we are reminded that amidst the chaos, there's immense power in these moments of pure presence.

May peace always find its way to your heart whenever you seek it, dear soul.

With love,

Miya Magic