Yesterday was a marathon travel day. Eight hours on a flight from Portugal to Newark, with a five hour layover before my flight to Sarasota, FL.
I didn’t arrive until after 1am – which felt like 6am to my body still running on European time.
But something cool happened at the Newark airport. I discovered the Meditation Room.
Sliding glass doors opened up to two rooms, one with four soft blocks in the corner for prayer, and another with rows of benches.
The rules were written clearly:
- No eating.
- No phones.
- No group prayer.
- No sleeping.
Violators of these rules will be asked to leave.
I explored the space and found a foot washing station and two private meditation rooms. I made one of them mine.
It was so quiet, I forgot I was in a busy airport. I spent about thirty minutes stretching after the long flight and finally ended with a meditation.
When my sweetie tried to call me on video, I declined and texted:
“I’m in the meditation room. No phones allowed. I’ll call you from another location.”
What amazed me most was that this used to be a place of high stress and anxiety for me.
But over the years, airports have become a kind of sanctuary. I often listen to spiritual audiobooks—Alan Watts was my companion on this trip—and the whole experience becomes something transcendent.
This little room took it to the next level.
Even in one of the most hectic, overstimulating places in the world, I found deep peace.
It never ceases to amaze me that even the most stressful and noisy environment can become an oasis when my mind gets quiet. And the world changes.
In a quiet mind, the world is revealed what it truly is: beautiful.
Today, as I ran errands, I noticed something else. People were helping each other everywhere I looked. A woman lifting a box of tea off the shelf for another in a wheelchair, people holding doors for each other. Smiles between strangers. So much kindness.
The world reveals my inner state, and in moments like these, it reminds me of what’s real.
I’m curious…
Have you ever stumbled on an unexpected sanctuary like this—somewhere stress turned to stillness?
Hit reply and tell me about it. I’d love to hear.
Yours in love and play,
Steph
