A tree is growing out of my bathroom window. It’s the most improbable of places. A seed must have been dropped from heaven- it’s carrier undoubtedly a bird - into a crack between my house and my neighbors roof tiles.

You know those tiles? Antichi tegola in terracotta. Made of rounded red clay, taking its shape from their makers thigh? Italian architecture is a feat. Roof tiles stacked one on top of another. Held together solely by tradition.

I shower.

Standing long under the hot water breathing in the steam. Letting my muscles relax and my mind empty. It’s here I learned to meditate. Staring at the lines of water running down the glass until I fall into a trance.

The past is history.

The future just a mystery.

All there is is now.

Mindfulness. For years I tried ad nauseam to meditate. I would force myself to sit unnaturally still. Conscious of my breathing - even that I could not do. That phrase flickered in my head again...Not by Force but by... I still can’t find the word that resonates. I’m a wordsmith. Words matter.

One day in frustration I burst“Why can’t I just meditate like I do in the shower?!” And I realized I’d been served my answer on a silver platter.

Meditate in the shower?

Go with the flow?

Under rainfall I go into that place between two worlds, the sound of the water, my trigger.

I noticed the green leaf when I stepped from the shower.

What is that? I lean to the frosted glass wrapping myself in a towel and crack the window.

I see one green leaf.

I open the window wider. It’s a whole branch.

But trees don’t grow in Venice? Unless you’ve got a private garden in the courtyard. I don’t. Venice is build on what looks to be an underwater forest - millions of wooden piles pressed into mud and mush, logs driven into the lagoon, land reclaimed by magic from the sea. Alberto’s words echo to me, “Venice was stolen from the sea.”

I open the window wider and look to see if Fabio is in his bedroom opposite my bath. His shutters are open but he doesn’t seem to be there. Good. I laugh. He would think I’m crazy as I step onto my closed toilet dressed in my towel and lean further out the window. I’m trying to find the source of the tree growing out of my bathroom window.

I remember how we met me and Fabio. One of my favorite life in Venice stories. I saw the Zoppis, Alessandro and Alessandra sitting at Paolin having a Spritz. I stop to say hello. And the gentleman sitting next to them says “Do you live in the the little house on the Calle della...?” Si. I respond raising one brow. “Do you have a pile of towels in your bathroom window?” He asks.

“I do!” I say in surprise. “It’s not normal. My kitchen had a flood.”

He says “No, No! I know that!”

“Who are you? Wait! You must be the feet! “Can you see me?” Forgetting entirely the Zoppi’s I add. “My Bathroom looks into your bedroom.”

“No No cara, my dear, Calm Down. I hear you not see you. You talk to your mom on Sundays.” He reassures me “I can’t see a thing. I recognized your voice.”

“Okay here’s the deal,” I say, “We must become best friends or enemies. I know your secrets and you know mine.” He laughed and agreed.

The roots of the tree cling to the wall. It has nothing to hold onto. No soil. But my tree has all it needs to grow- support, nutrients, protection. It’s quiet unreal. She seems to be flourishing - my tree - in the most adverse conditions.

I’ve got quite a menagerie - I muse. The Republic of Toma. Me, my cats, our fish Frank Jr Jr and Harvey the bird. Now we have a tree. I name her Sabrina.

WELLNESS EXERCISE:

In the past our forefathers went to war. Now we’re being asked to to sit home in silence. Are you like me? Too busy to stay still? Surrounding yourself with too much noise because silence is deafening? Be Brave enough to sit in silence - no external noise - and not the sound of your own mental chatter. Go outside and sit in nature and listen only to the trees. Focus only on that sound. If you’re by the ocean, listen to the waves. Or shut off the lights and light a candle and just watch it - focus on the flame. The point. Focus only one one thing in that moment. This is a vacation from your brain. It heals it. It trains it. Meditation enables us to move from higher frequency brain waves to lower frequency, which activates different centers in the brain. Slower wavelengths = more time between thoughts = more opportunity to skillfully choose which thoughts you invest in and what actions you take. Make a commitment to meditate 3 times this week for 5 minutes each time.

OUR SPONSOR:

Truly Venice is a trademark owned by Property Solutions, a Swiss based company that operates as an agent for property owners wishing to lease their properties for short and long term stays. The company was founded in 2007 by a small entrepreneurial team that sees a great opportunity in offering people all over the world an alternative accommodation to hotels going beyond the traditional tourist trip.

We aim to offer a personalised service, organizing restaurant bookings and taxi services, finding the appropriate meeting and exhibition space as well as offering flowers, special wines and food baskets. Property Solutions is a customer focused company that values your ideas, comments and thoughts. We encourage you to give us feedback on any aspect of our business, whether it be about the website, the service or one of our apartments.

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