what am I missing right now?

I stopped reading regular news media outlets 10 years ago, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made for my long-term mental health. However, from time to time, there are news stories that simply soak in through friends or links I click on.

Following the recent attack in a Moscow concert hall and the videos that circulated on the internet, a flood of rage, anger, and sadness entered my bloodstream. We tend to ignore wars because they happen in “war zones,” but when a similar act occurs in a location where you could see yourself, it hits you hard. It serves as a memento mori, a reminder of your mortality. One day you are here, and then you are gone. The emotions I felt while watching the videos were intense until they became very unpleasant, and I had to stop.

This brief memento mori brought a question to my mind:

“what are you missing right now?”

When I asked myself this question, I felt absolute peace. There was nothing I missed. No empty stomach, a roof above my head, my family safe, pleasantly warm. It felt magical and peaceful.

So, what if I were to ask myself this question 10 times a day? Even in those moments when I find myself in a difficult situation where the ego is present, how can I refine this question so I can experience this memento mori every single time I want? I have refined my question:

“removing “I” from the current moment, what am I missing right now?

The answer is: absolutely nothing! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Iterating further, can we develop this into a habit? A habit so internalized that it becomes second nature, like breathing?

Something to practice and think about.

Thank you for reading.

Namaste.