Being in the Moment

June 3, 2020

Folks are blessed who make the best of everyday,

living by their own philosophy.

Everyone who needs the sun must find a way,

and I have found the only way for me.

                                           ~ excerpt from the song Give Me the Simple Life

Now more than ever, we may find ourselves craving a simpler life—even while many of us are surrounded by the comforts of home. To say life has been full of new challenges is a vast understatement. To avoid acknowledging it is a disservice. Name it and claim it, baby!

We recently saw a sign about being in the moment. In essence, it says wherever you are, be fully immersed in that very moment, as it will never be again. “Living in the moment—also called mindfulness—is a state of active, open, intentional attention on the present. … Mindfulness involves being with your thoughts as they are, neither grasping at them nor pushing them away. Instead of letting your life go by without living it, you awaken to experience.” We often let precious time slip away with worries of other things. In these very extreme times of change this speaks volumes about our lives and the need to be purposeful in how we choose to live every day. In so many ways, people are beginning to slow down and take inventory of what’s really important. We see connectedness and solidarity amidst physical distancing and great creativity as an expression of emotion and fortitude.

But with all this change, do you ever feel like you are starting to lose it just a little, too? We feel you. Is it possible to feel frustration and fortunate at the same time? For sure. Our lines of work, home/family, and maybe even homeschooling, all become a bit blurred. Our four-legged co-workers are needier or disruptive to online meetings or phone calls. Yet they also bring a source of comfort as they sprawl across your lap (or laptop). Many of us have only dreamed of having so much at-home time with our kids only to realize their attention requirements make work/life difficult to balance. And then we feel guilty realizing their world is upside down, too. Our companions may be testy as too much togetherness and projects has surpassed being a good thing, even though there may be a surge of COVID babies in the next year, and we feel we could all use a break. But you admire and love them all the same. If you live alone, the solitude may be getting to you with the need for social interaction feeling stronger than ever. And your friends need you just as much as you need them. Your refrigerator may be your new best friend and your dining chair now your back’s worst enemy. 

Because many are at home, our routine is a little out-of-sorts (whomperjawed anyone?), and we may feel at the mercy of all things technology, which is another story all together. Those in the office feel the absence of their comrades, and the mandates of this pandemic have changed the physical dynamics of the once familiar. We work the same—but then we don’t work the same. We may forget to pace ourselves these days and are in an all-out sprint which creates a constant state of anxiety and stress—it’s exhausting! Wouldn’t it be healthy to interact… and converse… and laugh… and share… and vent… and move… and brainstorm… and nourish ourselves… and grieve… and take moments to just BE as we live and work? Remember that every call or ding of your inbox does not mandate immediate attention from other work tasks you are already doing. Same as before.

Today, we have to find creative ways to still be in the moments that bring us restoration and balance. It’s important to practice self-care and awareness. Enter mindfulness.

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When you look at history, the times of greatest change brought about great creativity. Sir Isaac Newton developed the law of gravity, Albert Einstein discovered the theory of relativity, Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, and Shakespeare penned King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra all during times of isolation. What masterpieces are being created now?

Try a mindfulness practice using this five-step practice for grace under pressure by Elaine Smookler.

When you notice yourself boiling over for any reason, turn your attention to the sensations arising in the body. You don’t have to like or want what you are feeling – just have a close encounter by meeting what is already here.

• If possible, allow yourself the simple recognition that you are experiencing a moment of suffering. It’s just how it is.
• Now breathe in the recognition that suffering is part of the human experience and that you are not alone.
• Soothing touch can bring physiological calm: allow your hand to rest on your chest, or tenderly allow one hand to caress the other, or find a way to gently offer yourself kind physical contact.
• And offer yourself these words or change them as you require:

May I be peaceful

May I be safe and protected

May I know what I need to be well

We’d like to share moments of life with you. Reply with a picture of how you are living and working in the moment to be entered into a drawing for A Mindful Living Card Deck or book on Practicing Mindfulness. Drawing will take place on June 15th. Be sure to also check out the fabulous workbook attached to this email.  

Be Well…

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