Wednesday 23 August 2017

“In today's rush we all think too much, seek too much, want too much and forget about the joy of just Being.” ― Eckhart Tolle



In today's world, we get very caught up in drama. Drama often in our head. What people have, what we must do, where we must be. We spend time thinking about tomorrow or getting from A to B that we lose focus on what's important. Where we are right now.


Many years ago, someone selected Buddhism for Mothers of School Children. This is not something I would normally read, and there was a lot I could pick apart, but in the spirit of the text, I thought I'd try it out with the school lunches. For some reason making the school lunches was a real mood trigger for me. I'd get so irritated, and the joy sucked out of me over this small detail everyday. Given that I merrily packed lunches for day trips in the school holidays, I knew, as Jack Sparrow would say, that 'the problem isn't the problem, my attitude to the problem is the problem'. Focusing a little more on my attitude and the task at hand, did change the process a little.

Many years later I went to a Black Dog talk on how to recognise depression and one of the tips to help people was to get them to focus on the present. By taking in the immediate surroundings, it closed out the ruminating on the future. I like to take photos on the dog walks, and I have found it's made me literally zoom in my focus on my surroundings - on the light on the buildings, a flower in the garden, bees in the bushes and so forth. It is a quiet and peaceful time, even though the cars roar past up the main road.

I am not a particularly spiritual or zen person, but I am pretty happy. So I will leave you with a quote that I love, and is the clearest reminder of how to be mindful. In A Man without a Country, the brilliant Kurt Vonnegut says “And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.” By recognising when you are happy, and highlighting the appreciation of the moment in your mind or with others, you quickly build up a bank of these moments, and realise they far outweigh the others.

Linking with #FloralFridayFoto and #FridayBliss

33 comments:

  1. Lovely said: "recognising when you are happy, and highlighting the appreciation of the moment in your mind or with others, you quickly build up a bank of these moments, and realise they far outweigh the others".
    A very nice day!

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  2. I love that Tolle quote and I'm pretty intrigued by your experience with the school lunches. I try to stop and think before I react adversely to things (obviously not referring to the school lunches) but sometimes it's tough.

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  3. I love that Jack Sparrow saying - hadn't heard it before, but rings true. I use photography too to try and capture the moment, buttoned too often to rush past it. Jo.

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  4. That's some great advice and a quote I'll have to remember!

    Di from Max The Unicorn

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  5. Am honest reminder to slow down, notice and be grateful for the good in our lives and take moments to recognise our well being.

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  6. I love the quote of your final paragraph about simply noting when you are happy.

    SSG xxx

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  7. Love that quote. It is so important to recognise when we are happy and express appreciation for it.

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  8. It is so important to recognise when you are feeling happy. The other day I was just walking along the esplanade and acknowledged that I actually felt happy. My grandson reminds me every time I'm with him to enjoy the moment and the little things in life and to just stop and breathe.
    Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond

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  9. Such a good read and some profound messages here too. Thank you Lydia.
    Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek. On Mon 11 Sept #LifeThisWeek turns one and that is the prompt! Next week: First car/bike.

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  10. I got a special occasional chair for my birthday this year. It's fun and comfy and is placed in a warm sunny spot in the house where I can watch the sun rise. It was such a great investment as now I am more motivated and being purposeful to get up a little earlier in the mornings and enjoy a quiet cuppa sitting on my chair. Taking the time to just 'be' in the moment and recall things I can be thankful for has made such a difference to my quality / enjoyment of life. I never knew a piece of furniture could be so helpful!

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    1. I like this idea very much...literally a chair to reflect in

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  11. I absolutely love the quote at the end, it is so true! If we all recognize the small things that are beautiful and make you happy, you will see the bad tend to just fade away.
    Thank you for joining us this week! #GlobalBlogging

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  12. #stayclassymama - and all too important to remember when raising kids!!

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  13. "Highlight the appreciation of the moment" Love that, what an important lesson and a great reminder! #globalblogging

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  14. I love those quotes. I'm not usually very spiritual or in touch in that way, but recently the kids and I have been meditating and doing yoga which has actually been amazing! #stayclassymama

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  15. Couldn't agree more with this quote! #kcacols

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  16. It truly is my Nemesis. So hard to do for someone world as tight as I am. I keep on trying though. Thanks for linking up to #globalblogging

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  17. Thank you for this post, and that quote at the end. am so working on my zen moments, and adding more and more. You have helped. xoxo #stayclassymama

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  18. I've been working on being more mindful as well. It is lovely once you get the hang of it! I just have trouble shutting my mind off sometimes #KCACOLS

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  19. I try to be more mindful and kinder to myself - taking time where I can to have a little focus! The way we live these days is just do do do in't it?! Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday

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  20. I love this. It is so easy to get bogged down with the stuff that makes us unhappy. It is so easy to focus on it. I have been trying to focus on the good bits for a while now and it is working. Thank you for joining #fortheloveofBLOG

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  21. I love this. It is important to identify and recognise what makes us happy. I also think it is important to recognise what makes us unhappy and to be honest about that. We need to allow these feelings in so that we can be present. We can't always block things out - that's what I do. Pen x #KCACOLS

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  22. I love the quote you ended with. This postvreally made me think about what makes me happy and how I forget to focus on the present. #fortheloveofBLOG

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  23. What a lovely reminder to slow down and take life one day at the time. Thank you for sharing with #StayClassyMama

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  24. Perfect. Love both quotes.
    With thanks from an overthinker.

    Thanks for linking up to #KCACOLS . Come back soon

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  25. Some great tips to appreciate what we have. I'm going to try recognising when I'm happy more! #KCACOLS

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  26. I tend to walk away from drama. Once anyone starts gossiping or ranting I tune out. It's much less stressful. #kcacols

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  27. I love the message of this post! We really do need to practice gratitude every day even in the smallest of ways. It keeps things in perspective. Thank yo for sharing your wonderful thoughts!

    Shelbee
    www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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  28. How true and I love the quotes! It was photography that taught me to be more present and what mindfulness is and gratitude and the benefits of all those things! Might sound like a bit of whoo whoo to some ... but when you need it and try it, you soon learn that in fact it's all true and it works and it makes a difference! Thanks for linking up this lovely post to #ZTT :-) xo

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  29. So good to read this again Lydia. Thank you for your wisdom and sharing the quotes from others. Denyse x

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  30. Hi,
    Thank your for sharing your information on noticing our surroundings...lots of people don't even notice what's in their own back yard...have a great day!

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  31. Beautiful spring flowers, loved the Tulip blooms. It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to Gardening, Nature an Birds here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2021/03/growing-inverted-tomato-plant-in-bottle.html

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