Waking up to the sunlight glistening through the trees or streaming in the window instantly energises you for the day ahead. Welcome August and please be kind! There are so many things that I will do during this month and here are some of my favorite:
- Read a book about mindfulness
- Eat an entire meal in silence — pay attention to the act of eating and to the taste of the food
- Go for a walk — with no iPhone, no music…. just pay attention
- Get a mindfulness coloring book and spend an afternoon coloring
- Start a gratitude journal — and write in it once a week
- Try a 45-minute meditation session
- Take a 24-hour technology detox — no phone, Internet, TV, etc.
- Declare a Day of Kindness and volunteer, engage in random acts of kindness, smile at people you see, and make people’s days
And all year long. You can make this your best year yet.
Make yourself fully aware of the smells, sights, feelings, and sounds in your current surroundings you’re breathing in. When you light a scented candle or spray scents into the room, there is a mood that is created. If it’s a fresh evergreen scent, you’ll feel awake. If it’s lavender, that can relax you and may put you to sleep. Find a written word or words that inspire you either by quote, verse or meaning. You have the ability to memorize words. People who have good memories can excel at learning languages or giving presentations. If you’re on the beach, you can watch the wave motions coming in and out of shore. You can focus on your wonder about the ocean’s power, and recognize its characteristics different than your own (that you didn’t create). In the moment, you can feel your smallness and appreciation for what you are in this world. You can be a witnesser, allowing time to stand still.
It’s that time again… as much as we’d like to ignore it, heading into August reminds us that summer will soon come to an end. The good news? Summer’s not over yet! Have you ever walked into a room and then forgot what you went in there for? Or missed an exit on the highway because you were so deep in thought? It can be easy to forget to enjoy the little things. We recommend spending time trying to be completely present, pausing to enjoy small moments of delight like smelling a few fresh flowers on your walk to work. Whether that means listening to the birds’ chirp, or having a picnic with a loved one and savouring each and every bite. Allow yourself to soak in each moment – take a moment to relish the feeling of the sun warming your skin and a gentle summer breeze around you.
Have an amazing summer!
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