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| Sea Oats at the Mission of Nombre de Dios |
It's challenging to be in the here and now all of the time. Life is so faced-paced and people seem to be on-call 24/7. We have forgotten how to ignore the phone that is ringing and put the electronic devices away. I think about a simple walk. There's usually always a reason: to get somewhere, to lose calories, to be healthy, to visit a favorite place. What about walking without purpose? Walking just to walk and be in the here and now. How many of us do this?
When I try to get into this mindset and become conscious of my mind and body - I notice that most of the time I am holding my breath. This is my first step to get into the here and now - simply breathe. I imagine that each breath I take dissolves the busyness of my mind. My surroundings become more vivid and life seems to slow down enough that I can actually embrace it.
How do you get in the here and now?
*I'm participating in the 2013 A to Z Challenge. Every day in April (except for Sundays) I will be posting according to a letter of the Alphabet. To read more about my theme, click here.
wonderful idea and ?---it is one of life's keys to contentment i think
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lynn. I need to be more conscious of taking a breath—just breathing and enjoying. This is a good reminder for me. ☺
ReplyDeleteWe all need a reminder every now and then.
DeleteUnplugging from the world for even a few minutes a day allows us to see more clearly, I think.
ReplyDeleteYes, we all need to do this. Otherwise, we get too caught up in the little things.
DeleteBeing in the now. I need to learn how to do this. I have this issue with over-thinking the past and yearning for old times when I could be appreciating the present much more.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a skill we continue to learn throughout our lives.
DeleteI have never walked with my head down, always up and I can think, see what is around me, comment to myself when I see something beautiful. I think most people are in thought when walking to exercise, get a little sunshine, clear out the bats. I tend to breathe a bit deeper to enjoy my walk. That is just me.
ReplyDeletewww.sandysanderellasmusings.blogspot.com
Thanks, Sandy. I think it's great that you do this. Breathing deep helps with so many things.
DeleteI don't know that I get into the here and now as a conscious choice. I probably should, but as you said, we have so much going on around us either to distract us or to engage us, whether our time is well spent in that or not. But I can definitely relate to feeling that. Yesterday was a beautiful day, and while my children were taking an evening course at the Parks and Rec, I was outside drawing. The air was perfect, the sky was blue, people were walking their dogs or biking or jogging. Children were playing on the playground. Ducks and geese everywhere, someone was singing and playing the guitar up the hill. And I was thinking that I wished there were more days and moments like that one. Great post!
ReplyDeleteYesterday sounds like it was an amazing day!
DeleteI agree with a couple of the others who have said you have given us a reminder to just see what is around us now instead of head down thinking about something else somewhere else. A good walk in the woods would be good to connect me back to nature for a start.
ReplyDeleteI can completely lose myself in the woods. Lose myself in a good way.
DeleteNow that I'm once again employed, I'm going to need to make a point to soak in my surroundings maybe even get back into some good daily walking habits.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about not working that makes me super lazy?!?!
Just think about it as getting rest for your next adventure. Congrats on the new job!
DeleteI like to garden. Spring fever hits me hard every year, and I will be growing something all the rest of the year until winter.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the negatives about living in a condo - I can't have a garden. I dream about buying an old farm house on a bunch of acres and growing my own fruits and veggies.
DeleteI love your theme! And what a lovely blog :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I need to find my here and now, I relax with some music and a puzzle - and maybe a glass of wine. I can let the world flow on around me. I love it :)
I absolutely love music. I don't listen to it consistently, though. It does help keep us in the moment.
DeleteBeing in the here and now is so hard to do. It is much easier to worry about tomorrow or contemplate the past then focus on today. What a great reflection. Best- Rebecca from Moxiewriters.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rebecca! It is difficult - that's why I think it is a skill we'll never quite grasp.
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