BE HERE NOW

Hello Dreamers:

I recently caught myself not practicing “what I preach”. You see, I was able to take a day off in the middle of a stressful week, so I headed to the beach for a run to clear my mind. As I ran I was thinking of an upcoming vacation to Sanibel Island and started planning out all the details. My family vacationed there when I was a child and I was always fascinated with collecting seashells. I wondered if I could find the shell book that my grandmother had given me. Would there still be an abundance of shells? I was hoping that my husband would see some of the “old” Sanibel Island that I experienced and not just a skyline of condos. About an hour went by before I realized that I was not giving any thought to enjoying this day, here and now: feeling the sun on my shoulders, the wet cool sand beneath my feet, the sounds of the surf and the screech of a far away gull. I had been way too busy thinking about another beach in the future. Yes, it was nice anticipating and planning the future trip, but that was just it….it was in the future.

Have you ever driven home from work and wondered how you got there? You actually can’t remember the drive home….because your mind is occupied with a comment that someone made that day or focused on something that you forgot to pick up for dinner. Do you end a family vacation and immediately start planning the NBT (Next Big Thing)?

Sometimes we find ourselves just sleepwalking (or running) through life. It is fine and good to plan because those who fail to plan; plan to fail, right? but don’t forget the in-between days. These are what life is made of. Sometimes the best surprises in life happen in the most ordinary moments.

We need to greet each day as a wonderful beginning. We don’t know how much longer we will have or if there even is a tomorrow. I don’t want to be a Debby Downer, I just want you to know how disappointed I was on the beach that day when I found that I was ignoring the beauty and letting the chatter take over.

This is what I call my “monkey mind”. It is like a little monkey is just chattering away and having its own conversation in my head while I run, drive, walk, etc.

In yoga class, (my monkey interrupts me there too) I have to remind myself to Be Here Now. When thoughts drift into my head, I wave to them as if they are a parade and let them pass. Its funny how so many of my blogs refer back to my yoga class, maybe that is where I find my authentic self.

I think I learned a lesson that day on the beach and

here is my approach to being present on my beach runs:

I gave up running with my headset(better to meditate).

Then I gave up running with shoes(see earthing).

Now it is time for me to give up my monkey mind.

From now on, I will run with quiet meditative thoughts, giving thanks, and absorbing the wonder of nature.

To remind myself of this, I will begin each day reciting the Reiki

Principles:

I hope that all of you dreamers out there can calm your monkey mind to find peace for your mind, body, and soul. If you have a mantra that works for you, send it to me and I will post it next week. Until then, keep dreaming.

Coleen