More appreciation

This is probably a sign of my getting older, but lately, I've been realizing just how quickly time goes by. I often get the feeling I'm letting it slip through my fingers without really paying attention. During a yin class a few days ago, the yoga teacher reminded us that we only have this current moment once; blink, and it's gone. So, we should savor it while it's here. It seems so obvious, right? But how often do we go through the day fully immersed in the moment, and how often do we go through the motions?

I've decided to start my day reminding myself that I'll never get to live it a second time, so it's that much more important to be intentional about it. Of course, there are so many things to do and so many thoughts on our minds. It's normal to get swept up by it all and switch to autopilot once more. One thing I've found really useful to remind myself to stay more present is to take a few short breaks throughout the day where I breathe deeply and follow each single breath from start to finish. I close my eyes, notice where the inhale starts and ends, and then do the same with the exhale. I find myself marveling at the miracle of every breath and thinking about how I'd taken all this for granted. This helps me feel more alive and present for a while until I get swept up again. However, I'm sure that with practice and patience, the effects will be deeper and more long-lasting. Following my breath and feeling appreciation for it also helps me let go of anger, sadness, resentment, or whatever other uncomfortable emotion I may be experiencing. It also helps me put a lot of things into perspective.

Another thing I've been thinking about lately is how we take many of our everyday life objects for granted. I've been reading a biography of Dante Alighieri, one of Italy's greatest literary icons. Books were extremely expensive back then, and Dante would never have been able to buy one himself. So, in order to have access to all the knowledge he needed to write the Divine Comedy and his other works, he needed to have access to the people and institutions who owned libraries. This also meant being strategic about whom he sought protection from (given that he was condemned to perpetual exile from his hometown of Florence – but that's another story!). I took part in a book swap three days ago, and after we'd all emptied our bags, the table was literally covered in books, and we could all take as many as we wanted. I found myself wondering what Dante would have thought.

Similarly, I went to an exhibition on Francesco Hayez at the Modern Art Gallery this past weekend, and the tour guide showed us some sheets of paper all containing several sketches. She explained that paper was expensive back then, and that artists would cram sketches for different paintings on the same sheet. I just have to look at my desk to see so much paper everywhere, from notebooks to printouts, from leaflets to sticky memos. The same goes for our clothes, furniture, tech gadgets, etc. Appreciating what we have a bit more would probably make us happier (and it would make the planet happier too, as we would probably waste less).

So, there you go, my Monday ramblings :) In all seriousness, I highly recommend taking a few pauses throughout the day to follow your inhales and exhales. I'm finding it an incredibly powerful practice, and would love to hear about your experience with it. Remember, you can email me or call me to chat about this and other issues related to personal development, self-care, and life in general. I'd also welcome your insights and observations in the comment section. Don't forget to share with someone who might be interested, and have a great week.