Tag: living in the moment

Live the Width of Your Life

How much of your thoughts and actions are concerned with the length of your life? But do you think about how to live the width of your life? What do you think is stopping you from adding to your life now, in this moment.

But i’m Afraid

New ideas can be scary. However, everyone can make a micro change. Here are a few ideas to start to live the width of your life:

  • Slowly take in a deep breath, closing your eyes, letting it slowly out. Repeat.
  • Return the friendly barista’s smile at the coffee shop.
  • Feel the warmth of the sun on your face, close your eyes, and lift the corners of your mouth ever so slightly.
  • Practice pulling your shoulders back, lifting your rib cage and looking straight ahead.

Do you journal? Is meditation a part of your day? Do you practice living in the moment? These are ways you can start living life to the fullest.

How do i start to journal?

It’s simple. Just follow these steps:

  1. Wake up 30 minutes early
  2. Gather a spiral notebook and pen or pencil
  3. Set a timer for 30 minutes
  4. Start writing anything, even “I don’t know what to write”
  5. Go with the flow, writing down anything that comes to your mind
  6. Stop when the alarm goes off, or continue if you’re on a roll and have time
  7. Repeat every morning

Journaling will get the mental juices flowing, breaking up log jams, opening up your ability to live the width of your life.

Be brave. You can do it!

How will you start to live the width of your life today? I really want to know.

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Thank you,
Dawn

A Message About Patience

As I sat on my second story deck, enjoying my first cup of coffee, I noticed a Great Egret perched on an old piling near the edge of the dock. He remained within my view, for over an hour as he patiently performed his morning ritual. This bird’s message about patience affected my entire day.

Nature is the Delivery System

I’ve always felt close to nature, enjoyed her beauty and found serenity in all aspects. It’s not surprising I find messages in the form of animals all the time. In the past I Googled “the spiritual meaning of…” and excitedly looked for the explanation that sounded accurate. Now I simply ponder what it means to me and the answer is there, in my thoughts.

Today the Message is PATIENCE

Why patience? Watching the egret this morning, I felt drawn to his behavior. He peered into the water at times, occasionally he stretched his long white neck until it was completely straight. The early morning sun illuminated his chest, neck, head and yellow bill. He seemed to stretch as if to gather more of the sun’s energy. Then he returned to his primary goal, catching his breakfast.

I found I needed patience throughout the day, more easily found through my message received from the egret.

Here are some of the events of the day that required patience.

  • The air conditioner wasn’t working properly when I got out of bed
  • My trainer was running late
  • I had little time left to get ready for another appointment
  • The usual traffic impediments
  • When I found a store associate, my desired items were at the furthest point away from me
  • The stoplight misfired adding to my time at the intersection

Here are some events that were gifts of my patience.

  • The air conditioner worked after installation of a new filter
  • I arrived 5 minutes early for my appointment
  • The appointment was on time and lasted a mere 15 minutes
  • I easily found a shaded parking space
  • Waiting at the stoplight gave me time for contemplation
  • My energy was positive all day

Patience and Living in the Moment

By focusing on practicing patience, I naturally lived in the moment. I felt no anger, whose source is past hurt. I felt no fear, whose source is the future. There was only peace in my body, mind, and soul. The Great Egret’s message about patience gave me a beautiful day and the promise of more beautiful days found through living in the moment.

If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for my newsletter, which you will receive each time I post.

Thank you,
Dawn

Living in the Moment

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.