It is all about slowing down, taking time for yourself and establishing new habits that will last a lifetime.
Inviting Awareness
So, what am I aware of after undertaking this week?
The answer is that rather than learning anything new about myself I have reconnected with things I already knew but, had for whatever reason started to take for granted or have forgotten to do.
Look-up … was as exercise all about appreciating the beauty that is around us.
The one thing that is always guaranteed to catch my eye is the view from my study window looking straight out to sea across to the Isle of Arran. Even on a cold, crisp winters day I have the window open, so I can hear the sound of the waves on the shore, smell the salty brine and listen to the myriad of birds from seagulls shouting and arguing to the mournful cry of the curlews or the constant chatter of the starlings, jackdaws and crows. I am constantly in awe of Mother Nature and that I am lucky enough to live where I do. (posted to the discussion group)
So then, one thing I will never take for granted is where I live. The view from my study is an inspiration and also a hindrance when I am supposed to be working, but undoubtedly is always a pleasure. It is forever changing, and Mother Nature puts on some spectacular displays from daybreak to sunset, and right through the day and night. The wildlife is amazing, from the plethora of birds on shore to the gannets fishing antics at sea, and then there are the visits form the majestic golden eagles that reside on the islands, that can be witnessed fishing in the bay. Other visitors include whales, dolphins, and even basking sharks. Also, on the swath of grass between us and the sea are deer, rabbits but mostly foxes, which I feed regularly. Now I know that they are not to everyone’s taste, but I love having them around, watching their antics and even having a set with yearly cubs in at the bottom of my garden.
One thing I have realised is that I no longer make the time to meditate. It is not that I am too busy to do it, or that my lifestyle is so hectic that I can’t fit it in, but rather than I have gotten out of the habit of doing it.
The conscious establishment of a new habit is always going to seem like a chore to begin with, as the actual act of remembering to do something, of finding the time, and putting in the effort to make it happen daily is often difficult. It is far easier to decide to start tomorrow or that it is okay to miss just one day, but there lies the problem because one day can all too often run into another, then another until it has been absent for too long. This is when I shut-down and reason that it is pointless to start it all over again, just to fail all over again.
However, my solution to this is to have set times to do things.
I have already established a pattern of reading, even just a few paragraphs of a textbook every night before settling for sleep so, I now need to fathom out a workable timeslot to reinstall meditation into my life. My current thinking is to set my alarm clock 10mins early and do it before getting out of bed … a kind of tranquillity set-up to each day. (This is a work-in-progress so watch this space).