When we take time out of our day to be mindful, to be in the moment, to pause, is when we can see things around us that bring us joy, such as the beauty of a sunrise, or ice crystals in the air, a butterfly flitting about or a colourful rainbow. In my Today I Am… An Empowering Journal Back To Self, I talk about the practice of becoming mindful; that mindfulness is the state of becoming conscious and aware. It reminds us to return to the present moment and become aware of our feelings, thoughts, and body sensations.
Many years ago, my family moved out to the country, and I became a stay-at-home Mom. I left the inner city corporate world of computer programming and systems, settling myself into country life. After the stress of the move and fitting into a new community, I soon learned to take note of my surroundings. I noticed the sun come up every morning, spreading its gorgeous pink and yellow hues across the sky. I had never paid attention to sunrises nor sunsets in the city. I don’t believe I lifted my head to the horizon, other than to see if the bus was coming.
I learned that weather patterns each day are uniquely different, and realized that no day is the same. Seasons, as well as animals, each have their pulse of life about them, as do ranching and farming. I call it the pulse of the country. I am not sure if I ever would have found mindfulness, if not for the move to the country. Unless, of course, my stress level and health deteriorated so much, it would have forced me to slow down and look at life differently.
Life presents many ‘little things’ to us as gifts. If we are so busy rushing around and doing, continually moving from one task to the next, we may miss all the little parts of life that wake the senses and bring joy and fulfillment to us.
Mindfulness is not new age or spiritual. It has been around forever. The only difference is that our ancestors didn’t have so many outer influences as we do today. With cars to take us door to door, cell phones, iPads, tablets, and computers (to list a few) – the barrage of information technology fills our senses more today than years ago.
Take time today to lift your head, to breathe, to feel your senses to sit in stillness, for that is when you will see…
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