By Mary Boutieller
This present moment of awareness is what we have to work with, create with, love with and cry with.
Spending time in nature always gives me a chance to slow things down a bit. Unlike seated meditation, where I attempt to sit still while my mind goes on high alert noticing every little discomfort, the woods allows me to let go of the reins and release pent-up tension. In that relaxed state, my body falls into a predictable rhythm, like a heartbeat, moving one beat at a time. It’s as if each step brings me more in tune with the present—the colors, the smells, the crunch of leaves beneath my feet.
In these moments, I feel whole again. Creativity flows, ideas come to mind and, interestingly, like the sand mandalas created by Buddhist monks, those ideas come and go without needing to be held on to. I know I could pull out my phone or carry a journal with me, yet I don’t. It’s like planting seeds for another time, trusting that they will sprout when I need them most.
When is it that you find yourself in the flow of present moment awareness? Is it when you exercise or work at something you love? Is it when you are traveling, playing with grandchildren or looking out a window at the falling leaves? Start to notice when it is that the outside world falls away and you feel fully present. One friend climbs along the rocks of Maine for hours and is in her happy place. Another friend rides his bike for miles as a way to feel whole again. Sometimes, when I’m feeling particularly stressed, I’ll pull out an old coloring book and crayons and sit down to color, soon forgetting the strain of life itself, tapping back into a childhood spent sitting, creating, dreaming.
I saw a quote today that brought it all home for me, “To be mindful is to be available for now. Now is where change happens.”
Today is all we have. This moment is what we have to work with, create with, love with and cry with. Right now. Don’t wait until circumstances are perfect because, frankly, perfection is an illusion. So much is missed while waiting for our lives to begin. What we have in front of us are not obstacles. They are opportunities to bring our fullest selves to the moment at hand, and then go from there.
Find your flow my darlings. Find those times when happiness is a state of being, not a goal to be achieved, and bring more of those moments into your life. May the flow be with you!
Mary Boutieller is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga since 2005. Her work experience includes 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic and 10 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Mary’s knowledge and experience give her a well-rounded understanding of anatomy, alignment, health and movement in the body. She is passionate about the benefits of yoga and the ability to heal at all levels through awareness, compassion, and a willingness to explore. She can be reached at: SimplyogaOm@gmail.com.