We tend to worry a lot. Many of us say we don’t…but we really all do, to an extent. Much of this is driven by the overactive mind. Maybe it’s wanting a better job. Maybe it’s wanting to be someplace else. Maybe it’s wanting to be someone else. Maybe it’s worrying about an upcoming presentation or project that you need to complete. I think you get the picture.
I don’t want to say that there are not things that we need to tend to, because I’m sure there are. Instead, I think it would do us all good if we could learn to appreciate what we have…especially the simplest gifts that we take for granted.
The more that I practice being present in the moment, the more in awe I am of life in general. Here are some examples:
- Having the ability to think clearly. It’s amazing that I’m able to do the job I do, understand where I am in this moment and how to get someplace else whether it’s from my home to work, getting on a plane to travel someplace or walking from the living room to the kitchen. For a moment, think about the many that suffer from mental illness (especially Alzheimer’s) and can’t do these basic functions we take for granted.
- Having this body. Yes, I may not be my body and we shouldn’t form an attachment to this body, but again, most of us take for granted the miracle of the body and what we can do with it. Our entire world and way of communicating with it is through our senses. Being able to see, smell, touch, hear and think. While losing any one of these senses doesn’t diminish our true essence, it does diminish the way we interact with and interpret this world (see above for clear example of ‘losing your mind’).
- Amazement of the most simple, yet beautiful scenes. The other day I was out on my deck for what was one of the first nice days this spring. The view of the sun setting in the west with the unique cloud formations and the light reflecting off the clouds in various shades of yellow, orange, blue, purple, pink and grey was….well, I could say amazing, but words can’t really describe it. Take the time to just look…and appreciate that you can do so.
- My breathing. There’s a story of of a young zen student who is told by his master to focus on the breath in his meditation practice. A short time into the mediation, the student becomes agitated and goes to his instructor and asks ‘Why do I have to concentrate on my breath? It’s boring.’ Without saying anything, the zen master takes the boy to a fountain nearby and plunges his head under water until the student frantically begins to scramble. The boy is released, gasping for air as he comes up from the water, as the instructor responds, ‘do you find the breath boring now?’ The breath is a wonderful gift. From the moment we’re born, to the moment we die, it is one of the few constants in our life – we are always breathing. I often ponder now, ‘who is doing the breathing? Is it me, or am I being breathed?’
What about you? If you take a moment to reflect and just be, what do you notice that you might be taking for granted?
I’m Nate, a writer, mindfulness practitioner and student of the inner workings of the mind.
Hey Nate,
I can tell that you are gaining a lot from meditation! I’ve often had difficulty telling people about the perspective that it gives you on life. I often end up just saying that life and every present moment becomes beautiful. You described it wonderfully however!
Take care,
Ben
.-= Ben Weston´s last blog ..The 2 Most Effective Visualization Techniques =-.
Hi Ben! Yes, meditation had definitely changed my perspective….it’s been wonderful, frustrating, enlightening….and I’ve appreciated it all for what it is. Thanks for stopping by!
The more I strive to be in the present, the more I discover that almost every scene that my eyes encounter has the potential to leave me amazed. I’ll often stare at one random tree, a building or a piece of food and be left speechless at how it came into existence and how I am somehow able to interact with it.
What in this life is not simply amazing? I’d say the answer is ‘nothing’. It just depends on how much we are able to be present and therefore make that connection.
.-= Earl´s last blog ..There Is More To The World Than The Pyramids Of Giza =-.
Exactly Earl. I am beginning to see the world in the same way. Presence is definitely integral to this because if we’re not present how are we truly going to ‘see’ (i mean that literally and figuratively)?
That first mindful eating exercise I did was amazing. Just starting at this little raisin in my hand and interacting with it and realizing where it came from…..essentially materialized from nothing out of the earth, not to mention the amount of people involved so that it would be in my hand in that moment. Definitely a cool experience.
I love the question “who’s doing the breathing?” I think that sums things up nicely, thanks!
Yes…definitely a zen koan in itself right there! No need for an answer. Just a good question to sit and be with.
Hehe, nice zen master. Learning by suffering… ehem, doing!
Today was the first real real spring day here where I am staying at the moment. The birds singing, the sun shining in the afternoon, the sound of wind and running water… absolutely enjoyable and something I miss a lot when being in Cartagena.
.-= Fabian | The Friendly Anarchist´s last blog ..Slower Travels, Lessons Learned =-.
Wonderful! Yeah, I love the change of seasons that we have in the midwestern region of the US. There are four distinct seasons and I love every one of them….I particularly enjoy Spring and Fall…almost a rebirth and death. Both are beautiful times of the year.
To be honest with you, I have a really hard time with being grateful !
I tend to ignore the past as fast as possible; solely concentrating on my future endeavors. Well, the present and the future. But I am at least thankful for every day I can breath my passion !
.-= Mars Dorian´s last blog ..Gary Vaynerchuk For A Day ! =-.
Well, I’d definitely say you’re grateful if you can be thankful each and every day for how you do your work. That’s great!
Being aware of the gift of the moment, I realize how wonderful it is to experience life. It is an opportunity to give my best as well as to appreciate my blessings.
.-= Walter´s last blog ..Embracing our vulnerability =-.
Well said Walter! Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you Nate, for this island of gratitude! For me, and I may be speaking for all as well, worry comes when I can’t quite reconcile with the unpredictable, unreliable nature of life, and resultant suffering.
Regarding things to be grateful for, my list as of now would be pretty similar to yours! I would add pleasure from bird sound heard in background
with much metta,
marguerite
.-= Marguerite Manteau-Rao´s last blog ..Reconstructing the Four Noble Truths =-.
Yes, I definitely agree with you. And hopefully we can open up and see that. Worrisome thoughts may come into our lives, but if we’re willing to see that we can’t control what we’re worrying about (some future event we’re worried about, how someone thinks of us, etc.) then we might be able to find greater peace. I suppose some control can come when we are able to let go of the worrisome thoughts and not be attached to them.
BTW – I’ve been loving the sounds of the birds chirping outside! Spring is near, here in Chicago!
What a beautiful post (and picture) Nate. That is a great story about breathing. I think we are all like that boy at times … only appreciating what we have when it looks like it’s been taken away from us! A good reminder to take time to focus on all we have right now. Thanks again for an inspiring reminder to focus on what is important.
Hi Jen! Good to hear from you, as always. Yes, something as simple and profound as the breath is something that most of us take for granted. I was just reading about Christopher Reeve (an actor who played Superman in the late 70′s, early 80′s) and how he had a spinal cord injury that rendered him completely paralyzed from the neck down. We take for granted the ability to feel our toes, limbs and hands….that sense of having a body. I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like to not have that.