Monday, February 23, we will meet in person.
Go to calendar for our schedule
Address for OHMC meditation space:
3812 Northampton St. NW, Washington DC 20015
Please arrive a few minutes early so we can invite the bell on time. You may also arrive 15 minutes early to practice working meditation by helping us set up cushions.
Dear friends,
This week, we will meet Monday evening, February 23, from 7-8:30PM ET in person at our meditation space (3812 Northampton Street NW); Wednesday morning, February 25, from 7-8AM ET online; and Friday, February 27, 12-1PM ET online/in person (Hybrid).
Ellen will facilitate on Monday evening. Ellen shares:
I’ve been struck by two intersecting things lately. First, I recently heard a wonderful episode of the Hidden Brain podcast (Dec. 22, 2025) about the sense of awe-how we often miss moments of awe and how we can find them. Second, I’ve been thinking about how I rarely feel a sense of happiness and joy, and how I’m likely missing out on simple, clear things around me when I’m not really present. These are troubling times for so many, when having some joy, some pleasure, and discovering something that helps us feel awe about nature, people, a pet, or something else is so critically important.
In Be Free Where You Are, Thay wrote a small piece called “Touching Miracles.” In it, he describes how many of us don’t feel that happiness is possible in the present moment, that we feel we need more and look to the future. This particular line really touched me: “This is why we step over so many wonders of life.”
Thay also touches on this in The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh in his writing “A Life of Miracles.” Here he talks about sitting by a stream and as we “watch its sparkling waters, noticing the pebbles glistening … we may be overcome with happiness. But in just an instant, we may find we’ve had enough … we think of other things.” He goes on to make a powerful point about the connection between our awareness and being present and our ability to see and appreciate miracles.
When I facilitated in January, I focused on the issue of intention. It comes back to me as I prepare to facilitate Monday, when I consider there is joy and there are things to feel “awe” about if I can truly see them and be able to call upon them in tough times. Here’s an example of having a moment of awe: the frozen Lake Michigan!
What brings you joy? How do you bring mindfulness to seeing and touching joy? What things cause you to stop and feel the power of awe? What gets in your way?
I look forward to sharing together on Monday.
Ellen