Mindfulness...

Mindfulness 

(mahynd - fuhl - nes).  Noun.

- the trait of deliberately paying attention to what is happening around you, and within you.

- done so without judgement or criticism 

"Missing the Obvious"
Miraval, Arizona

I just got back from a long weekend in Arizona getting my Zen on.  Shocker alert.  I am NOT a Zen kinda gal.  I am a total slave to my environment.  Planning what's next.  Regretting or second-guessing the past.  My brain has evolved in a sensory rich world where I can plug in and connect to wherever my mind wants to take me on whim.  And when I want to take a break from the outside world, I can turn on the television or radio to escape by tuning out everything (and everyone) else.  It's hard to let my brain just lie still and take in the moment without wandering or daydreaming.  I judge the success or failure of any given day by how much, or how little I've checked off my "to do" list.  I don't usually take into consideration WHAT specifically I've accomplished.  Maybe taking the time to really listen to what someone is telling me should be deemed be more successful than half-heartedly listening because I'm mentally planning out where I'm heading to after we are done our conversation.

Truth is, our world doesn't reward living in the moment. Especially doing so with no criticism or judgement.  And THAT is the kicker.  I had my first lessons in "mindfulness" this past weekend.  Epic fail.  Scratch that.  Eliminate judgement and it morphs into...I expanded my comfort zone and learned from it.  And just like learning how to tie your shoe,  mindfulness takes practice before it becomes second nature.  Right now, it's a foreign concept that I need to rely on a "how to" manual to navigate.

We humans are suppose to be the smart and evolved species here on Earth.  Yet those "dumb" animals are smart enough to live in the moment. "Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it."  They aren't burdened by a brain that requires constant stimulation.  They don't fill up all their time...doing.  Their time is spent...being.  They are keenly aware of their surroundings.  They sure wouldn't miss that beautiful hummingbird buzzing next to them because they are too busy sending a text message to their hair stylist rescheduling tomorrow's hair appointment due to a conflict with getting their nails done.

How much do we miss, and therefore do not get to appreciate, because we aren't mindful of what is going on around us and within us?  And how often are those times when we ARE aware of what is going on, but we accompany it with judgment and criticism.  When we do so, we negate the possibility of empathy and kindness, and we increase our stress.  Some food for thought I acquired, along with a whole heap of healthy food I ingested, this past weekend.

And that folks, is my tranquility du jour.  From the most unZen-like person I know.

P.S.  If anyone is interested in incorporating "mindfulness" into their daily lives,  I picked up the most wonderful book this weekend that I highly recommend:  How to Train a Wild Elephant by Jan Chozen Bays, MD.  Ohmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Here's where I'm linking up today ..."The Party's On"

Please join me on Sundays for Song-ography.

This week's song title is the Three Dog Night's "One is the Loneliest Number".