In meditation we are practicing being more wholeheartedly present  •  learning to recognize our escape valves, the ways we hide out from our immediate experience  •  wholeheartedly feeling what we feel  •  recognizing the process of checking in and checking out  •  training to be more present with the ups and downs of ordinary life allows us to be more present with others  •  each time we bring ourselves back we are strengthening our ability to stay with what is happening as it’s happening  •  not hiding our true experience from others