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Mindful Living is not one of those things you can check off your list as done! The darn thing keeps coming back…like laundry and dinner. Well okay, it’s not exactly like laundry or dinner, but you get what I’m saying — it’s a way of life, as opposed to “something to get done.”
Now, if you’re someone like me and you enjoy crossing things off your list, this new way of life takes some getting used to.
This is my nice way of saying that I wasn’t so mindful this last week. Maybe it’s an excuse, but it seemed like a busier week full of dentist appointments, allergy appointments, and a Mother’s Day brunch at the preschool. I was simply too busy to be mindful.
I did manage to be mindful a little bit of the time, though. These moments included:
1. Putting the kids in charge of filling the muffin tin with cornbread batter. I soothed my inner clean freak by reminding myself that cornbread batter can by wiped up quickly but their memories of “helping” in the kitchen will last a lifetime.
2. The evening Eucerin routine goes on, and I have continued to enjoy my children’s giggles when I hit their ticklish parts.
3. I have been very aware and appreciative of my husband’s patience as we continue to make baby steps in transferring this blog to Wordpress.
4. Listening to snatches of conversation between the 5-year old and almost-3 year old.
5. Stopping to get ice cream for the kids. Just because.
6. The sweet scent of the jasmine in the backyard.
I’m linking this post to Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky.
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I am having a mindful moment or two right now as I am just heading off to the after hours clinic (first thing on Sunday morning
) as my hayfever eye has turned into an infected eye. So, I am giving thanks for my current one good one and also eyes in general! It would be the sense I just couldn´t live without.
Happy Mother´s Day kirwin!
Happy Mom’s Day. I think you are doing better than you are giving yourself credit. Your list is a good one!
There is lots to be said to just listening. Listening without thinking of what we are going to say while the other person is talking or listening without making judgement. Or, listening without thinking about what we are going to do next. This is something I am working on with my kids and husband.
Happy Mother’s Day, Karen!!!
I believe it’s easier to keep busy doing stuff, than it is to slow down and not do much at all!
Happy Mothers Day, have a lovely day with your family
its not mothers day in the UK is it? Not very mindful of us if it is.
Mindfulness, its a keep coming back to it when you remember to be mindful isnt it. the more you practice the more you will be mindful. am sure of it. the little moments will add up. rt
I wanted to tell you: I LOVE the new blog. Beautiful!
And so glad you had some wonderful, mindful moments this week too. This will get so much easier in time (I tell myself as much as I tell you).
One of my own mindful moments happened today when G decided to try to make a traditional Greek dish we’ve never made before: dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves). He enlisted me to help “stuff and roll,” and we stood at the kitchen counter, stuffing and rolling, and listening to one of our Greek CDs. I thought, “I want to remember this. This is what I will remember when I am in the States and miss ‘home.’”
My favorite entry of yours today? The conversation between the 5-year-old and almost 3-year-old.
Great post! I hope you have a great mother’s day. #5 reminds me of my mom. She used to always do fun things like that with my sister and I (and still does!).
Having a balance between “being” and “doing” can be a challenge at times but have you thought about “being” AS you’re “doing”.
I’m a doer too and in recent years have been practising being more of a beer (not a Bud Light but a be-er);).
When I start to feel busy or stressed, I focus fully on the task at hand using as many of my 5 senses as I can - sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. This helps me get more present (and mindful). It also helps with the racing mind thing. Being while you’re doing for me is kinda like the next level of living mindfully. I sometimes forget but it has been a huge help in getting a better balance between being and doing.
@ RML~
I hope your eyes are feeling better soon. That’s a horrible way to spend Mother’s Day!
@ Denise~
Thanks. Good advice on the listening. I’ll try to do more listening this week, I promise.
@ Shannon~
Thank you!
@ Laura~
I agree. I’m having such a hard time slowing down. I know that it would be good for me, I’m just having a difficult time following through. (Not giving up though!)
@ getting stuff done~
I think I read somewhere that the UK celebrates Mother’s Day in March??
@ positively perfect~
Thank you! The ice cream was a fun, last-minute decision.
@ Sami~
You’re right. I am naturally a “do-er”, so I need to learn how to be in the moment as I’m doing things. I actually had a moment today, as I was hurrying home from the store. I stopped walking so quickly, and I strolled home. It was a good moment.
@ Chania Girl~
Thanks so much! It’s still a work in progress. Yes, I know it will get easier — I just have to keep at it. BTW, I love dolmas!
Hi Kirwin! I love the new blog - I know what a pain it is to switch as I just did it in February. I’ve enjoyed reading your mindful posts that you have linked each week to Tuesdays Unwrapped. One request: would you mind linking back to Chatting at the Sky somewhere in the post? My readers can find you easily through the linky on my blog but your readers can’t find me and participate unless you link to me. Thanks!
@ emily~
Of course — so sorry. I feel like I’ve been so spacey lately. I’ll add the link right now, as well as in the future.
You don’t give yourself enough credit - look at that list of little mindful things. I really think you are mindful even when you are doing it subconsciously
Great week - I LOVED reading each thing.
@ Danica~
Thanks. Yes, but there are times when I’m just trying to get through the day, rather than enjoying it.
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