Bring compassion into your breath through this meditation led by Julie Potiker. She completes the meditation with the poem, "The Most Important Thing", by Marie Marchand from her book, Mostly Sweet, Lovely, Human Things.
This version ends with music allowing you to drift off into sleep.

The Most Important Thing

I asked the stars:

What is the most important thing?

The panorama of bright sentinels remained

silent and just keep shining.

So I repeated my question, this time imploringly:

What is the most important thing?

It was urgent. My time here is limited.

I deserve clarity. I deserve truth.

Summer's nightwind caressed my face.

I accepted this show of earthly tenderness,

of warm reassurance, but divined

no answer from the twinkling firmament

above. The stars just kept shining

with an irksome persistence.

Maybe I didn't deserve an answer.

Or maybe I wasn't approaching this

with enough reverence. So, instead

of looking up, I bowed my head

and looked within.

What is the most important thing?

I whispered so only I could hear. Then behind

my eyes, a blend of space and light emerged.

The whole universe opened up inside of me.

There was silence. There was peace.

The stars aligned.

And without making

a sound, they just kept shining.

-Marie Marchand

Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.com
This podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.Find out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.com
This podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.