Paying Attention
It’s June already! Yikes almighty, Jiminy Cricket...where does the time go when you are sheltering in place? What day is today?
If you were mindful you would know. Have you ever driven somewhere and not remembered how you got there? Not likely lately, if you are like me you are getting about two months to the gallon…I digress as my mind wanders. Driving somewhere without a clue as to how you arrived is being mindless, you know when you walk into a room and forget what you came to do or get? I do this all the time, getting distracted from what I am doing by focusing on what’s next or regurgitating a conversation of the past, multitasking…we all do it, mindlessness.
Being on auto pilot is all well and good when we need to get things done but too often it is the rule instead of the exception and the months days years keep slipping away without us noticing.
Mindfulness is just the opposite, it is being present in the moment, noticing inner thoughts without judgement, registering details others just pass by, listening to and hearing what your friend is saying rather than thinking of what you will say next. Ugh, that can be so hard to do.
Early on in the Sheltering in Place order I would frequent Next Door to see what’s going on in the Neighborhood and I came across this story:
Hi Neighbors and beyond! I just want to tell you how much I am enjoying the waves and “hello” from the people I see on my morning dog walks! We are usually across the street or you might be in your garage while we walk by! So we are keeping our distance. But it reminds me of when I was a child and you knew all your neighbors or at least they knew you! That contact would be so great if we could keep this up after the self isolation is over! It makes me feel like we are a community. It’s nice to see the smiles and the friendliness! We are not going to be best friends but at least we are looking at each other and recognizing each other and being friendly! My wish is we keep doing that. It’s good for the heart and the safety of our community!
From Next Door.
This gesture was so sweet and very mindful. It is worthwhile to be aware of our surroundings, the people around us and to not be staring at our phones or to be thinking of what is next on our to do list. I hope that after we are released from our homes that I continue to be mindful of the life that happens around me, the people I encounter each day. I have missed it more than I ever could have imagined...the slight nod of the head, the little smiles and acknowledgement, even the meaningless “hi how are you?”. I could use a few of these right about now.
A big adventure for me has been my trips to the nursery, sometimes I don’t even need anything yet there I was ogling new plants for the garden.
While sheltering I have allowed myself to take more time with things, enjoying a walk through the garden noticing new little flowers or leaflets, savoring a little bite of chocolate as it melts in my mouth, sipping my tea. My son visited us for several weeks and it was such a treasure to spend so much time with him, to have long walks on the beach noticing the shells and creatures in the tide pools. I had been so overwhelmed by grocery shopping, wearing the mask, feeling anonymous, making sure I stay my distance. On one such trip my son made conversation with the grocery clerk, reminding me that there was a person, probably an overworked person, behind that cash register and their mask having to face everyday, all day, what I dread once or twice a week.
I’m crossing my fingers that June will be different than March, April & May. That the doors will open wide. I’m excited to work (not from home) again, to be around people, to notice the details…but I ask myself this question “How do I keep treasuring the little things and noticing the details, the neighbors, savoring conversations when life swirls around me once again? “ How will you?