Mindfulness 102

Today, is the last day of the School holidays.

Normally, by this time, I am at my wits end, I am ready to have the kids go back to school and I am looking forward to getting on with my list of "Things To Do". I am ready to move on. Not today however ...

Do you want to know why? This is why ...

Combined with a bit of this ...

Mindfulness

I've written before about Mindfulness and my continued effort in perfecting this practice.

While I still feel I have a long way to go in the application of Mindfulness to all areas of my life, I most certainly had some wins these School holidays, which is apparent from the state of my house!

While we always have done fun things, I've noticed that I used to rush through everything. It would be like, "Lets go to the beach!" "Yay, now we are here, when can we go?" Done that, now tick it off the list.

I was  a very big list person, and while I still am for many things, I find the important things cannot be experienced by ticking off a list.

My advice to you all: Pick one thing and stick with it until you have enjoyed the hell out of it!

So we have had a few days at the beach where we enjoyed building sand castles with moats so the water can surround them when the waves come in close enough, kicking the ball in the water and watching the waves bring it back, weeding the back yard and simply just digging holes in the dirt.  We've watched DVDs, been to the movies and eaten pop corn and ice cream. We've been out for posh lunches and trips through Maccas drive through. And, the best part, I was there, I was present, I was in the moment and living those moments with my kids.

My Happy Ending: We have made memories.

Peace - 4th Day of Gratitude

Today, I am grateful for the smallest of things, the seemingly non existent, and yet, so precious.

Today I am grateful for something that we all strive for but cannot see, cannot feel, nor can we touch.

It has taken me a long time to have this in my life, this thing that is intangible and yet, so sought after.  I have worked hard to have it, which is why it is so valuable to me.

I often invoke it, but then cannot enjoy it fully, I often am aware of it in my surroundings and yearn for the simplicity of the beings who absorb it.

Today, I was able to have it, I was able ... to have ... peace.

I was able to have a still mind, body and spirit, I was able to take time out for me, and me alone. I did not have to share any part of me, to give anything of myself to anyone else, I was alone and yet I felt more embraced than I have in a while. I felt nurtured, respected, loved and most of all, I felt gratitude.

For that five minutes I took out of my day and put to use in a much more valuable way, I was replenished, invigorated, renewed.

I have written before about Mindfulness here and today I used this method to invoke my peace. I focused on, well, nothing really! And that was what I got! Nothing, peace, calm, quiet and, it was beautiful.

Source

Today I am grateful for peace!

And hot chocolate ...

My Happy Ending will be when I can enjoy a little peace every day!

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. – Buddha

Mindfulness 101

As life plays out around us, we get on with it, even if we don't realise we are doing so.

We do the things we have to, the things we need to and of course the stuff we just do as part of life, some days we can't even remember what we did.

Over the years, as part of my pursuit of happiness (or happyness for those who love that movie) I have undertaken much counselling, most therapists at some point, come around to a therapy or practise called Mindfulness.

It has taken me many attempts to really grasp this concept of "living in the moment", because I suppose, I have had many moments that I did not want to have to experience. I have had much sadness, much struggle and with those moments, there has been no joy, there has been no need or want to embrace those moments, and in some cases an urge to forget.

Life is not designed to be one big party, but a succession of moments; many we may not want to acknowledge. By denying ourselves those moments and not learning to live in each moment, acknowledging and experiencing our feelings we will also miss out on the moments that are great, joyful, good, happy, mediocre, boring, intriguing, pleasant, learning, fun and at times overwhelming, we will not have learnt to feel, to truly appreciate, and we will have had no moments, we will have had no life.

So be aware, pay attention, cherish each moment each day and be grateful for the chance to feel, no matter the feelings those moments evoke, but most of all feel them and share them and experience life by living in the moment.

So now I have the theory down pat, I must learn the application ... wish me luck.

I think the Happy Ending writes itself with this one :-)

People will do anything, no matter how absurd, to avoid facing their own soul. Carl Gustav Jung



While this post is a thought that has been with me for some time, the final inspiration came today as I read from here