Every year I use the new calendar year to identify my word of the year. My 2021 Word Of The Year is: Move. As in move my body, move the needle, move the project along, movement, you get the idea.
I also want to use movement to allow myself to observe things around me more closely. When I take a walk around my neighborhood, I want to navigate my space in a way that I can pause and take in my surroundings. Take it all in using all of my senses.
When we’re in dire need of a change of pace or scenery, to unwind or relax, we often try to escape from daily life. We’ll book a vacation or go on a hike in the woods or visit a museum. That physical space change was a welcome reprieve but as the global pandemic has shown us, some of those luxuries aren’t currently available to us right now and haven’t been for months.
"With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment." - Thich Nhat Hanh
What I’ve learned over the past year is that we can ignite that same wonder we experience when we travel outdoors or out of our normal spaces in our own communities, in our backyards, in our homes. By tapping into our senses, we can appreciate the vibrant color of red berries on shrubs, the comforting smell of a hot cup of coffee in the morning, the way of body feels as we crush through the snow on an evening walk or how the soft blanket feels around our shoulders as we snuggle on the sofa with a book to read. Even the hum of the expressway or subway can be a welcoming sound to the psyche.
We’re surrounded by subtle wonders and we can choose where we place our attention. Do we hurry through our day without taking a pause and appreciating what we have or can we take a moment and be mindful of the space around us?
This is not to say we can or should abandon our responsibilities or work, obviously. That ever-consuming to-do list will still be there after we return from a calming walk. By taking a moment to honor your body and headspace, though, we can feel more nurtured, nourished and centered. And it might just give us the headspace we needed to be able to tackle something that has been particularly challenging thus far.
How are you practicing mindfulness these days? In what ways are you using your senses to invite more wonder and calm into your life? I’d love to hear from you!
