Every day we have so many things to do and so many tasks to complete that it can be difficult for us to be mindful: to be aware of what we are doing and how we are doing it; to be present and awake; to attend to our own existence; to let ourselves be enveloped by the here and the now; by the moment we are living in, and which is the most valuable thing we can ever have.
But being mindful is essential to reaching the depths of who we are.
Often, I find myself guilty of letting minutes and hours slip by vaguely and indistinctly while I am wholly absorbed by the uncertain future or memories that spring without warning.
I try then to snap out of it, to attend to what I am doing, whether it is dusting my room, eating, walking, or working; to stop being an automaton and plunge into the here and the now.
I begin by becoming aware of my breathing, of that existential swing in my breast, that up and down, that in and out miracle.
And then I become aware of my weight and the pressure under my feet, and of what my senses are taking in.
And let me tell you that it is a wonderful sensation to wake up like that to your own existence, even if it is only for a brief moment. Even if, a moment later, the practicalities of life absorb me again.
“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
Not all of us have the time or the inclination to meditate like the Buddhists do.
But all of us can try to become a little more aware every day.
You know, to smell that morning coffee or tea and drink in its flavor before taking the cup to your lips.
And to appreciate the soft comfort of the clothes your wear.
And to welcome the warm approval of the sun rays as you go out there into the world.
And to mind your breathing, to feel your lungs swell with the air that sustains your existence.
And to enjoy the simple act of walking from here to there and back again; to be here, to be now trying to enjoy what you do, to be fully aware of those around you and of your loved ones.
In short, to attend to your own life and actually live rather than settle down in the comfortable position of the spectator and watch you days unfold one after the other, their passing marked only by our achievements, memories, and the changing of the seasons.
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
So many things are beyond our control. Even if we work hard, even if we give all we have, not all of us will see our dreams come true, not all of us will get to see the pyramids, or the Niagara falls, or be married and have happy families, or succeed professionally, or change the world for the better.
If we judge our lives based on our achievements, we will invariably be disappointed.
But if we are mindful, if we work hard and do our best, and if we attend to the here and the now, and take the good and the bad as they come, then we have not lived in vain.
To me, to live your life means to be mindful.
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, whether you’re scrubbing floors, reading, walking on white sands beside your lover, or watching the August sunset through the dusty window of a solitary house.
If you are mindful, you are not living in vain.
Is being mindful important to you? Are you as mindful as you would like to be?
boy with a hat 
The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice-versa, the bad things don’t necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant, you just have to know how to look at it.
Quite so. The good and the bad are like two strands that make up the thread of life. Necessary and inseparable.
Love this!
With so much bragging on social media it’s easy to feel that we are way behind in reaching our goals. Being present and in the moment rids us if those feelings….that and turning off the Internet. Ha!
That’s right Susie. Most of the week I’ve been away from the Internet and boy, how good that felt!
Reblogged this on True Me and commented:
How true is this….
Loved this post. Wonderful thoughts…in flawless style.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it, Shivangi.
I am reblogging it on my blog site. Stories by Shivangi (adivir.wordpress.com). Thanks again😀
Guess there is some technical problem in reblogging. Will try again later.
Aww.. how nice. Not many people take time out to talk about something as simple but as essential and timely as this!
You will probably hear more about it from me in the future. 🙂
That’s great. Keep it up!!
This is really inspiring, thank you for this! Beautifully written! I’m trying to incorporate mindfulness more in my life. 🙂
You’re more than welcome. Do try! You have nothing to lose, only to gain.
Thank you very much! You are an inspiration! 🙂
Reblogged this on edge.
i’d love to be more mindful. nice post.
Sound, thoughtful advice. I agree completely. This reminds me of the scriptures I was taught as a child and have been important in my life: Be thankful in all things, and rejoice evermore. I confess I forget to be detailed enough in this thought process. Good day to you.
Same to you, Oneta. Thanks for stopping by.
It’s like breathing. It’s so easy to do and yet so easy to forget that we are doing it. But focusing on it can really help to calm the body and the mind and still we don’t do that often enough. Really good post.
Indeed. To my mind, it is a great tragedy that 99% of the time we are not even aware we are breathing.
Wonderful Post. I hope you keep making interesting and grammatically correct content, and that one day, if you don’t mind, checkout my blog? Maybe you’ll find something you like.
‘Grammatically correct content? ” Haha.
Ouch! That burns. Score one to you, Mr. Mars.
Reblogged this on Obriene Deloria.
I agree. I always lose track of time during my day and before i know it it’s already 10pm. I feel as if I have so much to do yet with so little time. I just need to take a breath and take it step by step. Love your blog, some good advice. I just posted my first post, still new to all of this. Please check it out and give me some tips if you can, would really appreciate some feedback from anyone as to what I can work on. Thank you 🙂
An uplifting post. Super. 🙂
This is such an amazing post! I have really enjoyed reading this! you have a very natural and an easy flowing style, which is a pleasure to read!
Reblogged this on Furtive Glances.
Really liked it!
I think a good way to train the mindfulness is telling about these good things that happen everyday.
So many times happened to me that you ask someone ‘how it’s been your day?’ and they reply: ‘good, you know, as always!’ and then you ask more, and they explain more and at some point they realize nice things happened during the day, but they didn’t noticed them. 🙂
Indeed! That happens to all of us, I would say.
Reblogged this on boy with a hat and commented:
Dear reader of my blog, I invite you to discover one of my best posts from 2015…
Reblogged this on Living & Loving Life.
Hello from Tunisia! I adore your writing style and your posts, I feel as if you are writing about “me”. And I think I am a mindful person as far I can create happiness and joy in everything I do especially through my writings. Please keep telling us beautiful things 🙂
I am so happy to hear that. 🙂