Yesterday I accompanied a friend, Susan Swern, on her eight hour round trip to Aspen. Her goal in town was to speak to an art dealer and an autograph expert. We both love road trips, so it was perfect. She is also my eating coach with Eating IQ. At various times during the drive, she asked me to join her in an exercise in “Living in the Moment”.
“For 5 minutes, observe the scenery. Just notice.” she said.
I thought, that will be easy. Boy was I wrong! Everything reminded me of my husband who had passed 18 months earlier. Tears streamed down my cheeks. We talked about how my thoughts were intruding, bringing in sadness.
She said, “You control your thoughts. Let’s try again.”
The second time was easier. I saw the fences in the snow and noticed the posts were thick, then thin, then thick. My thoughts invaded again. “I remember learning to draw perspective with fences and telephone poles when I was practicing drawing as a girl.” Oops! Those thoughts are persistent! But it also reminded me how I would always be in the moment when I was drawing or painting. Hours would pass without notice. Only the act of drawing was reality.
The third time was the charm. We were in Glenwood Canyon, the Colorado River slowly flowing west, dark against the snowy shore. Red rocks formed the canyon walls with tall dark spruce clinging to cracks with a backdrop of bright white snow. I achieved the joy of Living in the Moment by simply observing what is.. now. Ahhhh.
Beautiful description Dawn of how we all can experience peace as we practice focusing our thoughts in the now. What an adventure indeed!
You have been instrumental in my life journey. It goes so far beyond understanding my relationship with food!
Oh Dawn! I didn’t realize you had lost your husband just such a short time ago. I am so glad, however, that you found a way to live in the moment and find peace! What a beautiful post. Thank you!
Life is unpredictable. But it is ALL good. Thank you for your kind words, Cathey.