I waken with the sun warming my face, and for a blissful moment I lose myself in the now, not thinking ahead to what my day will be like. I remind myself I am here, now, and where I will be in five minutes is yet undetermined. Anything is possible.
I unfold in my day slowly, taking each moment as it comes. I am open to possibilities, to the unrehearsed moments evolving before me, and the joy waiting to be sparked.
Wandering through mindfulness can lead you on a virtual discovery of yourself, your surroundings, and the world at large. It’s a chance to take a step back and remind yourself to lower expectations, be open for discovery. It’s a time to Just. Breathe.
Be Here
What does it mean to be here? To truly sit and experience the now? Close your eyes and become aware of the sounds drifting past you: the hum of the refrigerator, the whirr of a ceiling fan, the dripping of water outdoors. Notice the scents hovering in the air around you, tickling your nose. Listen closely as each breath fills your belly, unfurling inside you as you slowly exhale.
Be here, right now.
It’s the Small Things
It may seem like a cliché, but it really is the small things in life that can bring you the most joy. Think of the pleasure to be found in the experiences we often overlook in the hustle and bustle of daily life: The sensation of a warm cup cradled in your hands; the fragrant steam bathing your face and tickling your nose. The sight of dozens of birds flying high overhead, hurrying, hurrying, to get somewhere.
When you pay attention small things can become big things.
Empty Mind
Take a moment to stretch your imagination, to allow your thoughts to flit and drift unfettered. Then reign in your thinking and empty your mind, and let the inner quiet settle over you like a warm hug. Far from being intimidating, a settling quiet in your mind can be a relief, a vast well of calm you can draw on at will.
Inside you an oasis from the storm of life awaits your call.
Unrehearsed
Spending a day unrehearsed doesn’t mean a day spent doing nothing – in fact, it’s quite the opposite. An unrehearsed day means leaving yourself open to discovering new experiences as they arise, to shift focus and move with the moment. It’s the ultimate in flow, Zen, and mindfulness. From one breath to the next, the world is full of possibilities. Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world” but you could also look at his quote another way:
Change the way you see the world, one breath at a time.