This is a continuation of my mindfulness in everyday life series. The first article in the series is Mindfulness In Everyday Life Series: Your Morning Shower. In this article I write about a very simple, yet wonderful experience I had while I was in Prague.
I’m standing on top of Petrin Hill near Hradcany Castle overlooking an expansive green meadow, which was once a vineyard centuries ago. The city of Prague, in all its medieval glory, lies before me. Tiny red roofs dot the landscape. Hradcany Castle, with its Harry Potter-esque look, makes me feel as if I’m in the middle of a movie set or part of some other time, long forgotten. The sky is a magnificent blue with a few wispy, white clouds floating by at a leisurely pace. I feel a light breeze softly touch my face welcoming me to wake up to this moment. The most wonderful, sweet smell of fresh cut grass catches my attention. My mind wanders for just a brief minute as I wonder how someone can cut grass on such a steep hill. The sound of a child crying brings me back to the moment. A wave of appreciation and awe floods my body. The feeling is hard to put into words. There’s a connectedness I feel and through that, a sense of appreciation for being where I’m at; an appreciation for being alive.
Learning to Stop and Let Go
The trip my wife and recently took was a hectic one, full of walking around, exploring, eating, traveling to different cities and talking with people we met along the way. In general, I find that I am much more mindful when I travel (I talk about mindful traveling in an article I wrote awhile ago), but sometimes I can forget to appreciate the present moment when I’m so pre-occupied with doing different activities. In the above story, I share a moment where I was able to stop and just be for a moment. It was a moment where I let myself connect to the world around me in a very literal way.
So, what’s the point of learning to stop? I sort of answer this above, but I’ll elaborate a bit further. I don’t know about you, but I get wrapped up all the time in stories I create, things I need to do, places I need to be, forming opinions on information I take in, and various other activities that my mind comes up with to keep me busy. This is where duality begins. A feeling that we’re separate from everything ‘out there.’ Learning to stop can help us re-connect with the world that we live in. There’s something quite powerful in learning how to cultivate this way of being. It’s truly one of the most wonderful gifts we can give to ourselves. For me personally, it’s helped tremendously in reducing my stress levels and I think it can do the same for you.
Why not start right now? Take a moment to notice your surroundings. What smells do you notice? What sounds? How does your body feel? Can you take in what you’re seeing, hearing, feeling and smelling without automatically placing a label on the experience? That is, can you just be for a moment and let go?
What did you notice?
“Many people are alive but don’t touch the miracle of being alive.” – Thich Naht Hanh
I’m Nate, a writer, mindfulness practitioner and student of the inner workings of the mind.
Hi Nate,
I enjoyed your post very much. Your writing drew me into the moments you describe; in that moment I, too, was standing there on Petrin Hill, marveling at the magical Castle in the distance, savoring the smell of fresh-mown grass.
Hi Honour – thanks for your comments, it really means a lot! If you’re finding any sort of help or meaning from my writings, then I’m very grateful and happy!
“I’m sitting in a room that smells like old microwaves.”
I really agree with you on this. Earlier today I went to a family gathering and I was on the balcony today just watching the horizon. However, I wasn’t in the moment. All I could think about were family problems and what I could do to build my blog. It’s been my addiction lately, this blogging.
I’m always in the moment when I meet new people, and anchor myself in a great conversation. Those moments, those social moments, are the best euphoric moments. And that’s pretty much what I talk about on my blog. Euphoric conversations. New headline.
Jonathan Manor´s last [type] ..Why Women Win Arguments and Men Don’t
Hmmm…smelly, old microwaves doesn’t sound too pleasant…nor too healthy. You might want to get that checked out
.
I hear you on the blogging and struggling with those problems, although it’s much, much less of a concern for me now. I’m curious when you say blogging is an addiction for you. How so? Why is it that you’re so concerned about building you blog? Finally, it seems that it may be causing some stress. Is it?