I took out the trash and was surprised by how nice it felt outside. Dark sky, stars, and Seattle winter not actively trying to ruin my mood. Down the street my neighbors were laughing, and it made everything feel a little bigger, like I’d accidentally zoomed out for a second. Mostly, I was just noticing where I was.
I like how everyday stuff can open small windows into mindfulness. Take your feet, for example. Right now, notice how they’re touching the ground. Four points. Yep, I’m borrowing a yoga exercise: heel, outer edge, ball, inner edge. Feel how the ground meets you back. It feels good to be where your feet are.
It could be other things too like tasting your coffee in the morning before getting to your computer or enjoying a walk after lunch without mentally composing emails.
Seen this way, mindfulness and presence become a habit of noticing and appreciating what’s already here. Kind of like remembering to look up at the trees instead of down at your feet when you’re exploring a city. True story. Discovered in Shanghai with my aunt. Story for another time. Your whole view changes.
🌲🌳✨
