. . . shehechezarta bi nishmati

You have returned my soul to me. That’s the phrase I drew on for my intention my morning sit. It comes from the Modeh Ani, I am thankful prayer, a prayer said by Jewish people upon first waking in the morning. I was drawn to the experience of returning: the breath returning to me in an inbreath after it had departed in an outbreath; my attention returning to the sensation of the breath after it had wandered elsewhere. A simple but humbling practice. How active the mind is. How distractable. How active the body is. So many sensations to pull the attention away from its intended focus.