Good Morning.
For those of us who work the traditional Monday through Friday workweek, Monday morning can be a trial. We face the abrupt ramping up of our schedule, after the restful pace of the weekend. As we race through the coming days, it is a challenge to hang on to the gains of the weekend. Recently, I have been reading books written by Thich Nhat Hanh. For those of you who are unfamiliar with his work, he is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He writes about the practice of mindfulness.
Each time I read one of his books, I am reminded of the value of this practice. Buddhist or not, we can all benefit from directing our attention away from the ghosts of our past and the constant planning for the future. Placing our focus on the present moment allows us to truly experience life.
We miss so much while spending ‘head time’ somewhere else. How often do we find ourselves lost in thought over some petty anger that we are clinging to, or wishing that we had done something differently? How often are we thinking about the ‘to do’ list, instead of noticing the color of the sky? When we eat a meal, do we really notice how the food tastes and feels in our mouth? Are we multi-tasking while talking with a friend?
The practice of mindfulness sounds relatively simple, but I find it to be extremely challenging. I can’t help but wonder how much of my life I have squandered, while focusing on anything but the present. I fear that it could be years, decades, or, worse yet, the bulk of my life. Unfortunately, the latter may hold the truth.
Every day is a new opportunity for change. As I move through this day, I will try to hold on to the practice of mindfulness, yet again.
October 6, 2014
