Miles from Mindful

I know I need a megadose of mindfulness when ...

• I pop bread in the toaster, but forget to push the lever.
• I rush to the bathroom, and with my mind a step ahead, immediately wash my hands.
• I miss my turn while enroute to the bank, then reverse course and, thinking of something else, miss it again.

Many days I'm miles from mindful. I always love it there -- it's a peaceful place -- but there are days when I don't arrive. And, even when I do, I rarely stay long.

As I sip my morning tea (one conduit to calm) I think back to the previous day.  Yesterday I resided in the moment long enough to patiently counsel a younger colleague and navigate my way over significant project hurdles. I tackled my evening shopping, remembering every item on my list (a first for me). But, today, my mind is already racing through the day ahead while at the same time, in haphazard fashion, it rounds steep corners to dredge up moments past. I must gain control of my thoughts ... again.

That's why mindfulness is so elusive, I suppose. You and I can be in the moment, but we can't live there; the moment itself is always in motion. To gain the clarity mindfulness brings me, I must reconnect with it every day, several times a day. And, here's where my expectations have been out-of-whack: I've been looking for a permanent destination, an everlasting stillness in the midst of storm.

I should have known better. I will always have moments when I return the ice cream to the refrigerator. When I answer the stapler instead of the phone. Somehow I'll learn to accept that. But today I'll be mindful of my priorities. I'll focus on WORD documents I am editing. I'll move methodically line by line. Until 4:00 p.m. ... when I will remember to pick up my spouse at the airport. And I won't miss my turn!

Comments

[Brenda]

I have to admit, sometimes I like my imperfections just because they are the stuff of good comedy!

[Dan/Pepsoid]

But if we were mindful all the time, from whence would the silly stories arise?

Here's another...

Popping to the loo, changing the toilet roll, then forgetting to have a wee!

;-)