Here and Now
We’re barely emerging from two years of drastic changes to the way we live. A time of renewal now surrounds us. Spring calls to us with its promise of fun and beautiful days, when the need for masks and cautious distancing will hopefully fade away.
But then our dreams of long-awaited carefree gatherings with family and friends, and the return to a more normal world, are shattered by the violence in Ukraine.
We can’t ignore what’s happening in the world, and we can’t change the tragedies we read about and witness via the news. However, we can still start each day by being grateful for what we have, hug our loved ones a bit tighter and open ourselves to see and receive little miracles in our daily lives.
Making donations to help those in need and praying or meditating for a peaceful resolution are good and worthwhile actions, but they often don’t seem enough. As a result, we feel guilty because we’re not able to do more to alleviate the suffering. But we must be honest; there is only so much we can do. It doesn’t help any of us to remain deeply upset by situations we have no control over. The negative energy it generates adds to the collective trauma and isn’t easily dispelled.
Too often, we go through our days overlooking the clues we need to gain insight and to better enjoy life. As an alternative, I suggest you follow some of the simple guidelines I give in my book. In Winks from Above, I explain the importance of identifying and paying attention to these clues – the signs and synchronicities surrounding us – and how to interpret them to make life more meaningful.
As an example, here is one of the exercises offered in my book:
Take a walk in Nature and be in the moment with each element, one at a time.
A solitary walk in a forest or along a beach would be wonderful. If this isn’t possible, take a walk in a garden, a little park, or a quiet part of town where the streets are lined with trees. Adapt the exercises to your surroundings. The results will be similar.
If you are walking with other people, let them know you're not ignoring them but that you just need to be silent for a while. This allows you to be in a meditative state even while others are nearby. You will find that with a little practice, you can ignore any conversations that otherwise might prove distracting.
Take a deep breath as you’re starting on your path. Listen to your steps. What sounds do they make in the grass? On dry leaves? On the gravel?
Listen to the trickling from an invisible brook or a river nearby. Does it sing to you?
Smell the rich fragrance emanating from the vegetation after a rain. Do you feel grounded?
Listen to your breath. Is it deep? Shallow? Fast? Slow?
If there is wind, is it playful? Teasing?
Feel the soft breeze on your face during your walk. Is it cool? Warm? Refreshing?
Listen to the birds. What songs are they singing? Are they flying or perched nearby? Can you see them?
Look at the sky. Is it clear blue? Cloudy and gray?
Feel your heart and open to your inner voice. Can you sense the wonders of Nature?
These simple exercises allow us to be in the moment, that is, to pay attention to what’s here and now. To do so can ease the turmoil in our mind. Try one or any combination of them. How do you feel afterwards?