Although it is very tragic what is happening in our global communities, I think we can make room to find our own individual silver linings. It feels like a way for the universe to remind us to slow down and be in touch with ourselves. In a world where busy is the new normal, it can be terrifying to have everything around you slowly come to a halt. This has caused fear and chaos amidst us all in our communities. But what if the universe was removing us off that hamster wheel, we have been running on to be more in touch with the present moment.
What if the real test is can we be mindfully present? What if we really sat down to drink our tea and coffee and mindfully took each sip or peeled our orange and used our senses to mindfully eat. SLOWW DOWN!! Says the universe, can you feel the orange peel between your nails and fingertip as you peel? Can you smell the citrus? Can you taste the sweetness? It is so easy to be caught snacking on the go from one job to the other or drinking out of the to-go coffee cup without being mindfully present. You reach a red light and reach down to drink that sip of tea or you’re in the middle of a busy workday and you need a quick snack, so you grab your snack while you walk from one room to the next, practically inhaling your food so you can get on with your next task. As if we have forgotten how to be…
Over the last two years I reflect back on my schedule 2-3 jobs, volunteering as an intern counsellor, newly married, entering a new family, working towards a master’s degree in a 6 day work-week, appointments on a weekly/bi-weekly basis (physiotherapy, massage, kinesiologist, doctors), attending the gym, beauty appointments every so often, making time for a social life, writing a capstone, social networking and planning those vacays or gaps to fill in your schedule. I remember thinking, yes! I need to slow down but forgetting to make time to slow down or not making it a priority. The real test has been to step off that hamster wheel and make time for all the things I wanted to do when life slowed down. I challenge you to find your silver lining or create that time for yourself.
As you read these words is your mind wondering? Or are you truly present? Find ways where you can keep yourself healthy, getting that much needed sleep, eating/drinking mindfully, going into nature on that walk (a safe physical distance one), playing board games with loved ones, word-games, drawing, painting, writing etc. Find your new HOBBIES to be in touch with YOU!!
Allow yourself to rest, restore and rejuvenate your mind! Take a deep breath <3
Busy does not have to be the new normal, I think it is time we change the pace of life by slowing down and enjoying each moment that life passes towards us. Instead of running on that hamster wheel.
Can we learn to have conversations with people without holding our phone and eating without doing two things at once? Can we learn to be listeners? Can we find hobbies for ourselves?
Can we live mindfully in the present and slow down? Will we look back at these days and cherish every interaction we have with each other moving forward? OR will we run to the hamster wheel? The choice is yours.
What will you do when the universe allows you to create a new normal? How will you re-enter your world?
A special shout out to all of the people keeping society running right now and taking care of our communities <3
“This too shall pass”
Share below a way you can count on yourself to be mindfully present, what hobbies have you created for yourself? Most importantly what is your SILVER LINING? ….