“Thus we are sucked away into the future — and we are incapable of actually living one minute of life.
– The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh
Being mindful is an art. It requires practice and patience. It is not something that happens instantly or that one can perfect in a moment. Trust me, I know. I’ve tried throughout the week to be mindful. Some moments I was fabulous at it, others not so much. I read this week’s book of the week fairly quickly so I had a lot of spare time on my hands in which to practice mindfulness as a result of it and I can honestly say I will endeavour to continue practicing. It’s amazing how much one sees when they are focused on living in the present moment.
I want to be clear that it does not make all moments good. There were in fact many moments this week when I was attempting to practice mindful living that made me question my decision. There are things we just don’t want to do, things we would much rather rush through to get them over with. When I did them with a sense of purpose I perhaps did not enjoy them but found the pace of life to be more liveable and the tasks less overwhelming. As the pace of life slowed my sense of living increased and I truly felt this week that I was able to accomplish more, see more and relax a little into the day. This feeling of relaxation is a miracle unto itself. I have not really been relaxed since therapy started in our home. The busyness and constant activity has been a little overwhelming. I am grateful to have found some moments of peace in the midst of it all. It wasn’t constant and I do need practice but it’s a start and that’s a good thing.
I realize this way of living is counter to pretty much everything we are told in society today. I see so many people living out of the moment, sitting at tables with friends while texting another or making plans for the future and forgetting to enjoying today. It’s not natural for us. We’re constantly looking for ways to maximize efficiency and get things done. If you find yourself falling into this trap may I recommend this book to you? My hope is that we all find a way to be mindful. The moment in which we are living has been given to us by God. Each breath, each interaction is a gift unto itself. Let us not wish away our lives but instead enjoy the life we are living.
This week I’m going to read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
