I’ve just looked again at http://generalmagnetic.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/the-fruits-of-a-recent-conversation/ about wellbeing and the things we need to do to keep ourselves health and happy. It reminded me of a piece I wrote for my AS level Art on Mindfulness, a couple of years ago.

Mindfulness

 Being in the moment.

Focused.

Living in the Now

Concentration

Fun.

Oblivious to time passing.

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All of these things mean mindfulness to me at different times –

often several of them simultaneously.

But of themselves they don’t necessarily mean that I am being mindful.

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Sometimes it takes planning and determination to become mindful

(but that is almost  a contradiction in itself):

a conscious decision to become mindful.

This is particularly true in the busy lives many of us lead,

trying to juggle too many balls, fitting in too much  in too short a time.

Demands of work, home and family,

especially small children (and not so small!)

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Mindfulness can be learnt – this can take time and practice,

yoga and/or meditation for example;

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Sometimes by setting the scene, or certain rituals, or times or places.

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Switching into the right frame of mind,

and leaving other distractions for other times.

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Walking the dog in the woods for instance:

however rushed and busy I am,

once I reach the point where the dog is let off her lead I slow down –

mentally, if not physically.

Sometimes giving me time to prioritise the rest of the day

and refocus (in effect “capitating” the headless chicken).

But far more often just enjoying

the sights, sounds and smells around me,

 the feel of rain on my face

or the squelch of my wellies in the muddy puddles.

It’s always beautiful  whatever the weather, or time of day or year,

constantly changing  but always the same cycles of time and nature.

 Reminding me how small and insignificant I  and my actions really are –

the world will continue to turn whatever I do or don’t do.

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I should print this out to remind my self to slow down when I’m in headless chicken mode. At the moment it’ll be back to the walk to and from the bus stop going to and leaving college rather than the walk in the woods (except at weekends). But a walk anywhere is good to refocus your mind.