March 2010
I am in the 7th week of my 2010 intention: taking photos every week, no matter what, and then selecting some and posting them on my web site.
My goal is not to have lots of viewers, nor to win any prizes or impress people. The overarching goal is to please myself and learn in the process. This is just for me. Now there's an interesting concept...
At first I thought I would never be able to keep my promise to myself. This would go the way of so many New Year's resolutions. But what I have discovered is that making time for myself, for this project, has become something that I actually look forward to! How cool is that?
When was the last time you did something, just for you, and enjoyed it?
So raise a glass to making time for ourselves and feeling no guilt in the process,
Robin|
The Value of Being in the Moment
I was driving home one evening a few weeks ago, reviewing what I had and hadn't accomplished on my to-do list for the day, berating myself for not getting more done. I had the radio tuned to the news cacophony, and my mind was churning, anywhere but in the moment. Suddenly I became aware of the rapidly evolving and stunning sunset. The clouds were rippled, making me think that I was underwater, looking up at waves crashing overhead. The sun's receding rays tinged the clouds with ever-increasing brilliant shades of pink, then red, then magenta. Oh, my. My breath was taken away, literally. It was a phenomenal sunset. I began to drive more slowly, to savor the light show, not wanting to miss one minute. I really should have pulled over, but that's another story. I noticed that I was breathing more evenly, the concerns of the day, the "shoulds" having melted away. I felt more centered, that Nature had given me a wonderful opportunity to put things in perspective, to consciously choose to savor the moment. My to-do list would still be there but the enjoyment of the ephemeral sunset wouldn't. So, what did I get from this experience? I could easily have glanced at the sunset, and then gone back to my ruminations, to fretting that the day hadn't gone as I had wanted. But I made a choice: be here, now. And my reward: a new perspective, and awareness of the beauty around me. How often have you discounted or ignored such an opportunity? Too busy concentrating on what could have been or planning for the future? When was the last time you stopped and noticed -- really noticed -- your surroundings?
What can you do today to be in the moment?
Some ideas to get you started:
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