A Note From Dr. Beverly Nelson, Director
Raise your hand if your daily routine resembles this: you wake up, have a shower, check and reply to e-mails, have breakfast, work on the computer, go to a meeting or an event or class, shop for groceries, take care of the household needs/pets, run errands, cook lunch, eat, attend an event, cook dinner; then fall exhausted on your couch and fall asleep while watching a movie or reading a book.
I don’t know about you, but just writing that left me exhausted!
There are many things to take care of. Most people want to be responsible and efficient and that’s great. However, if we stop paying attention, before too long we can find it difficult to tell one day from another. We are always running around, taking care of others, tackling our to-do list. In the long run, this can make us numb. We stop watching with care, we stop listening, we stop enjoying…we stop living. Yikes!
Of course, I’m not suggesting that you neglect your responsibilities. Instead, how about doing each one of those tasks in a state of complete mindfulness? When you wake up, don’t just jump out of bed. Instead, think how lucky you are to have the opportunity of a new day and give gratitude for being alive in this magnificent Universe. While in the shower, relish the feeling of water on your skin and the smell of your soap and shampoo. Read each e-mail giving it all your attention; enjoying it like you were reading a novel. When you run errands, keep your eyes open and always bring a pen and a notebook with you, or, if possible, a camera. You never know what you might find during the day!
Doing this helps us avoid the dullness of a routine. Slowing down and lingering on the tiny details completely enhances the perspective of daily life. Instead of the ‘same old, same old’; each day is filled with new, undiscovered things.
Try it. I have and when I do; it makes a huge difference in my life. I’d love to hear how it went for you!
