Yesterday I met one-on-one with my TM teacher/coach. Still in a pandemic, with about 30% of US citizens fully vaccinated, the TM center reconfigured their space so that there was a separate door and room to enter. The doorways inside were sealed with plastic, be we could still see and converse just fine!
And, I received my mantra! I was so excited. Since then, I have meditated 4 times. TM has an app that has enabled people to continue to learn over the 3 additional days by including the training, as well as a timer that helps keeps up with your meditations.
Yesterday when I came home to try it myself for the first time, my cat didn’t want me in the room with the door closed. I gave up and let her in. Big mistake, as she usually does nothing but because I was sitting still she kept rubbing up against my feet and licking my arm. WTH! Then a dog in the neighborhood that will bark non-stop when let outside started up, right outside the window. I gave up, got up to get my headphones and started over. Afterwards, I downloaded a white noise app and was able to meditate just fine with that in my headphones today.