I attended my first Quiet Mornings at MoMa today at 7.30am.

Once a month, they let in a very small group to wander around the collection, then participate in a 30-minute guided meditation in the garden.

Or in the foyer when raining like today.

This is a personalized recipe for my happiness.

One of my favorite places on the planet, housing the art that has shaped my aesthetic for a lifetime.

With no crowds, a focus on quiet, then an impromptu flash community of people sharing a meditative space for a short slot of time.

Then off to our busy day with a fresh start.

Of the multitude of times I’ve been at MoMa to visit this Jackson Pollack, almost never is the room in silence, with this rare bench empty to sit on and yes, meditate on the power of this piece.

Never have I had the freedom from crowds to read the background on The Sleeping Gypsy.

To hear in his own words, that Rousseau wanted us to capture the glint in the lion’s eye as he was deciding not to devour the gypsy and let her sleep in peace for that one night in the desert.

And room after room, almost to myself, with wall-sized Rothkos, Picassos, Klees, and more.

Besides the true wonder of these iconic images, it is the community of intent that made this gel for me.

In a city that is always in motion, a few handfuls of people, started the day a bit earlier, making their way to midtown in the rain, to wander aimlessly in awe.

Quietly, and for this moment in time, collectively gather as a group to meditate and be mindful and appreciative of things that epitomize beauty and thoughtfulness.

Finding that space for themselves and the group for this happenstance to naturally occur.

I love New York

And the power of art.

And the transformative possibilities of mediation.

And the essential nature of communities, even formed in an instant, to define our world and shape us for the better.

If any of this appeals, here’s the link to attend in September. Reserve early as at $15 entrance, this is a wonder and always sells out.

Art plus mindfulness plus community are a perfect combo.