Snapshot of life be it Delhi or Beijing. Morning rush to get to office, a hurried “Hello”, to your colleagues followed by meetings, emails, calls and discussion. Lunch often a quick one talking to coworkers or alone and then the long ride home. For some the work continues even at airport tarmac or in the metro to ensure nothing gets missed. The day ends attending to family and dinner and then the Netflix or some other show is put on to relax at night.
In between all the above is the simple black instrument invented by Graham Bell called the phone. It has pervaded mass consciousness everywhere in travel and restaurants one and all is on a photo drive. The right oomph or smile and the background being captured. The posting instant and we wait for likes and comments for validation. At home everywhere in the world people are hooked to the phone. What’s happening on that screen is more important than what is happening in front you.
Recently I was walking, and I saw a mother doing yoga in the park and her two-year-old with a screen, a cousin was giving lunch to the child with the screen on, grandchildren visiting grandparents but checking phones constantly. Why can’t people look at each other anymore and talk I wonder. The addiction from babies to adults is scary to watch.
We long for the vacation and that itself is a whirling tour of sites, gastronomic delights, and wines. We often say, “Oh god it was so hectic, I am ready for another one”. For teenagers’ examinations, homework, and hobby classes determine their every hour. In the ‘olden days’ childhood was childhood, run in the rain, play gully danda or just be. Of course, in the busy-ness we have forgotten to speak with friends or visit family, status messages after all serve the same purpose, so do text messages. The result, our world is a blurred vision of images and thoughts. Thoughts of people, places, circumstances and happening and planning for the mighty future.
Is something missing here? Yes you!
Why? Where were you in these moments? Did you stop to even sit for one minute and breathe in and out? Feel what you were feeling or even allowed yourself that tiny break to gather yourself. They say the moment is everything, yet we skip life so much. Think of a colleague who came with a sad face rather than taking a moment to be there you said a meaningless – All ok? and moved on. What if you stopped today and touched someone’s life by really asking “How are you?” with full intent?
I started with my moment experiment recently. A walk in the park was earlier a walk, a place to move the body. I was told please walk it will help your back pain. I read about the walking meditation by the master -Thich Nat Hanh and practiced it slowly. Breathing in you walk and take a step, breathing out you walk and take a step. I rarely could go so slow but what I was missing became apparent. I was suddenly noticing so much more. The monkey playing with their children, feeding them, and caressing them. The screeching of bats and the bird songs, the voices more defining than the sounds of humans. Even on a hot day joy was everywhere, the amaltas bloomed yellow and tiny butterflies surrounded it.
Eating Food has slowly started becoming a slow event. I started eating by thanking the food I was eating, the person who cooked it and of course everything that made it possible in the first place. As a Starbuck advertisement puts it, “What does your coffee contain- Sun, water, earth, air, human hands and much more?”.
As I experimented, I realized I was living in the past or future most of the time, something we all do. What next, which client is coming, what else I had to do and in doing so I was not allowing life to unfold itself. I was trying to control it with my wants, needs and desires. As I started being in the now, I asked myself often, Monica is this coming from the past or the future, from the soul or from the environment? What do you need to be happy?
Am I always in the moment, perhaps not but I have slowed down immensely, learning to breathe, enjoy what I do be it reading, walking, painting, or therapy work?
So how can you get in the moment? Here are some simple easy ways
· Put a stop timer in your daily time. When you STOP breathe in and out a few times
· Having food or water. Sit, sip quietly or eat slowly. At least for one meal thank what you are eating and where it came from and who made it
· What will get you in the flow? Is it art, is it singing, golfing, or staring at the stars? Do it every day
· Walk slowly to savour the moment especially in nature
· Hold hands for connection with your loved one
· Putting cream on your body- Slow, loving sensual is the way to go
· Angry, Fearful, Anxious – Ask Am I coming from the past or the future.? Breathe and watch these emotions rather than run with it
· Make a call you have been wanting to a loved one or a long lost friend
· Reach out to an elderly person in the neighbourhood
· Smile just smile- Your face has 300 muscles they will relax
Hope you find this helpful? Do share and comment
My offerings- Art Therapist Monica
1. One to One Counselling – Anxiety, Stress Management, Grief, and Relationship Issues
2. Art Therapy Workshops – Mental Health, Creativity, Team Building and Conflict Resolutions for Corporates and Non-Profits
Interested? Email: Monicakapur108@gmail.com; Phone: 9650743338
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