‘I always have a choice’

After much practice, this is a phrase I like to say to myself a lot – as creatures of habit we often forget we have choice in our thinking, our actions and decisions. The unconscious pull of our usual patterns of thinking or behaving cause us to do what we always do and hence we end up with the same old results.

To get different results – do things differently – flexibility is key.

Red Roses

It’s been a month now since I came back from holiday. Usually the benefits have worn off by the time the laundry has been done and normal routine re-established. This time though things are different. I’m catching myself noticing things I didn’t see before like the stunning red roses in the neighbour’s garden as I drive off in the morning and the formation of the clouds in the evening sky. The rose bushes are quite mature, yet how come they didn’t enter my line of vision last year?

While on holiday I got into a wonderful habit of relishing the moment, just allowing my senses to soak up whatever I was seeing and hearing at the time. Not to be in my head, distracted by thoughts but to really experience that precious moment. I realized the present - this moment now is actually my entire life as the past and future don’t exist. To really ‘live’ my life I need to place attention fully in the present moment. I’m not ‘living’ my life if my mind is absorbed and lost in memories of the past or plans about the future, both have their place, but they can’t hog centre stage all the time. If I’m living the present moment really well, when I reach that time in the future, it too will get all my attention. It’s a very relaxing approach; I’ve noticed the change in muscle tone especially in my feet. Let’s hope it sticks!

Today, Tomorrow, No Now!!

At the weekend I sat down and went through the nice new diary I bought a while ago, planning the times when I would like to take leave next year. It’s a great thing to do as there is no boss to seek permission from and I can take as much or as little as I like. It took a while and after I finished I went and did some chores. As I moved around I had a profound realization when a voice in my head said – ‘I don’t even know if I’ll be alive at that time I’m planning for, I have no guarantee whatsoever I’ll even be here tomorrow, this evening even!’

Life is just moment to moment and the present is all we truly ever have. It was one of those rare gems of thought, which has made me slow down (a lot) and savour what I’m doing as I’m doing it and I certainly feel enriched as a result. So much of our western lifestyle is focused on the future - a destination somewhere out there, and that’s important, equally too though is the journey that is to get us there and enjoyment of what happens along the way.