A (very) small essay on Mindfulness

Mindfulness… what does it mean to you? What do you associate it with? What ideas come to mind?

For me, mindfulness is a vast subject and it can be practised in many ways and to different extents.

But very often, we tend to associate mindfulness as an almost religious practice that needs to follow sometimes strict guidelines.

But what if we could apply mindfulness to mundane tasks and experiences?

I was in the lift yesterday and I decided to consciously observe and even admire my – limited – surroundings. It didn’t need to be a breath-taking vista, I just had to be fully present and contemplate and be open to what was there, right at that moment. It was a fascinating and eye-opening experience for me. Things don’t have to be extraordinary in life for us to observe and admire them and enjoy being in their presence.

Every moment can be an opportunity to be fully present and even enjoy what’s around us. Everything we do, we’ll only do it once in the same exact way. Every experience is unique. Further experiences will never be the same. That’s why being mindful and fully present is so interesting and beneficial. No wonder the word present (as in presence) is spelled the same as present (gift).

We all so often live our lives and most of the day in autopilot mode. The valuable and limited time we have, we don’t fully enjoy it or give it enough of our attention. That’s probably why children seem so carefree and full of joy; because they’re fully living in the present and each new day is an adventure, a new life even. What if we were to try and do the same in our daily lives?… imagine how wonderful that would be! Even though it would take some practising and de-programming, it’s definitely possible I think.

The bottom line is that things don’t have to be outstanding in life for us to appreciate their beauty and uniqueness and fully savour their presence at each single precious moment.