On Living Mindfully

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Lately I've been thinking a lot about the concept of mindfulness, the idea of living with my mind in everything I do. This is so counter to our culture.--we are so automated, so easily distracted, so disposable. Some days I just feel like a drone. But I'm trying hard to focus on living with my mind fully "in" the life I live, the choices I make, the people around me.

What mindfulness means for me:

1.) Considering how my actions (or inaction), priorities, choices, words (or silence), and reactions affect myself and others

2.) Being aware of the resources I use--where they come from, where they are going

3.) Fully appreciating the beauty around me--in places, in people, in things

4.) Beiung fully "in" the conversations I'm part of. I have a tendency to be distracted.

5.) Anticipating others' needs--knowing how to make them feel loved, finding practical ways to help, offering help without being asked

6.) Taking the initiative

7.) Reducing waste--not just material waste; but time, opportunity, interactions wasted mindlessly

8.) Being aware of my body and spirit--the food I eat and how it makes me feel, the stress I impose on myself and the toll it takes on me, the processes my body does involuntarily that keep me alive, the need to connect with a greater power than myself.

9.) Acknowledging the things others do for me in the way of gifts, service, encouragement, patience, loyalty, listening

10.) Prioritizing having a job that I feel is worth putting my mind to--one that I enjoy and that is fulfilling and helpful to others

I believe that mindfulness inevitably leads to thankfulness for all the moving parts that make life truly beautiful. I then begin to understand my part in making the world a more whole, beautiful place for others. I'd love to hear how you practice mindfulness in your life...

Creating a life rhythm

With all the life changes we've been experiencing lately (new baby, moving, new work situations), I've been feeling a need to establish a rhythm in my life. I've always had a hard time with routine, so as I am trying to find my "rhythm," I have decided to allow myself plenty of grace and flexibility. I have a tendency to be set unrealistic expectations for myself, so it is essential for me to remember that this rhythm is for my benefit, so there is no reason to set myself up for failure.

I've begun to imagine this new structure as the process of weaving on a loom. I don't know much about weaving really, but when I imagine weaving, I see myself starting with a structure of taught, evenly-spaced yarn. I then weave brightly colored bits of yarn, fabric, ribbon, flowers, grass, etc. through that structure. This is the image I cling to as I do my daily chores, go through my baby's bedtime routine, and prepare dinner every evening. These things create the structure through which I weave spontaneity, beauty, friendships, and so on. The structure is beautiful because it holds these things together. This imagery is allowing me to shift from feeling smothered by "routine" to appreciating structure as a beautiful, sacred rhythm to be danced to.

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Simple Gifts

I heard this song on a lullaby CD while I was pregnant with my daughter and I really loved it. Come to find out, it is an old Shaker hymn. My husband and I have been attending a Quaker (where Shakers have their roots) meeting for the last year and message of simplicity is a frequent one.

Simple Gifts

by Elder Joseph Brackett

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

What's in your backpack

The backpack monologue from "Up in the Air" is an ideology that really stuck with me after seeing the movie. Although George Clooney's character obviously uses his philosophy as an excuse for emotional detachment, I think there is something to even relationships weighing down your life. Like having 1500 facebook friends, or inviting "500 of your closest friends" to your wedding. I've found that in most areas of life (even in ways most people don't want to admit), quality is more satisfying than quantity. I'll be lightening the load of my backpack over the next week as I pack for our move.

Starting

There's a yearning in my heart for simplicity of mind, heart, and possessions. It seems like a good time to start--my little family is downsizing our household so that my husband can stay home and work. We are moving to a house 500sf smaller. I just had my first child and it is important to me that she grows up content with what she has, able to appreciate the richness of the simplest things in life. I also just ordered the book "Live More, Want Less: 52 Ways to Find Order in Your Life," by Mary Carlomagno. My intention is to read a chapter a week for a year and blog about my thoughts as I process ideas and challenges toward simplicity and find practical applications in everyday life. So, here goes...