One of my New Year's resolutions for 2019 is to be more "mindful". What exactly does this mean? What is "mindfulness"?
Mindfulness is the emphasis on being alive, being awake, being aware, being thankful, and being present in the now. Recently, I stumbled upon a quote, which I found really profound: "He died at age 25 but wasn't buried until 75." Some days, speeding through task after task, I feel like the day slipped by without me ever truly "living" it. I was too busy doing and checking boxes. I literally missed my chance to experience being alive all day long, to enjoy my moments of consciousness.
Take time today to stop and smell the roses. Slow down and enjoy the flavors and taste of the food you are eating, the droplets of water in the shower. Look around at nature and appreciate the beauty of the clouds, the purple, pink and orange colors of the sunset, the frozen tree branches, the glow of the moon. Cherish the moments you spend reading a book with your child at bedtime. Soak up the questions your child asks you, every hug, every touch, every laugh. You’ll be glad you did.
Research shows that mindfulness can reduce stress, anxiety, pain, depression, and high blood pressure. It can improve your sleep. It can result in better diabetes control. Mindfulness can improve your ability to pay attention and decrease job burnout. So many remarkable benefits, all produced by simply slowing down and soaking up the present moment. These are our moments of consciousness. We have so few of them during our lifetime. Seize them all!
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