Maybe you’re so filled with inner peace, there’s barely enough room for lunch.

Maybe compassion oozes from you the way jelly bleeds through the holes in a Ritz Cracker.

Or maybe, despite your best efforts, you sometimes daydream about driving your car over people. Not all people, of course. Just the ones at the office who slurp Diet Dr. Pepper at a volume that’s audible in space.

It’s shameful, I know.

But it’s not easy to transition your noggin from “vehicular homicide" to “inner peace." Some of us could use a little help.

Enter: “Just Breathe: Learn to Meditate" classes at Mayo Street Arts in Portland.

The series is geared toward the meditating novice, with the aim of discovering happiness from a different source (i.e., a source other than sweet potato fries, beer and evil scheming).

Buddhist teacher Clare Morin leads the hour-long sessions with equal parts happy optimism and “life can sometimes drive you mad" honesty.

There’s some meditation, some deep pondering and some laughs. And at the hour’s end, I feel like a better person. That's worth $8, I'd say.

The series began March 3, and while each class builds on the last, attendees are welcome to pop in to a session along the way.

It’s a come-as-you-are setting, with chairs available for those who need them, though some folks brought mats too.

April 7 marks the final session in this series, although another session is slated to run Wednesday, April 20 to May 18th, noon to 1 pm and 6 to 7 pm. The next session will also move around the corner to Heart Opening (227 Congress Street, above Otto Pizza). Cost is $8 per class.

FMI: www.meditationinmaine.org/maine or 508.979.8277

About the Author

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Shannon Bryan, content producer for MaineToday Media, likes exploring Maine - from mattress races to cardboard boats, she's into the weird stuff.

Karen Beaudoin, online editor for MaineToday Media, likes knowing the important things - like who's just opened their deck for a sunny afternoon beer and what Portland's eclectic set of street performers are up to.

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