"MINDFULNESS: A TRUE STORY OF HOW NOTHINGNESS CAN TRULY IMPACT YOUR LIFE"

 I took a deep breath but not deep enough to smell the residual odor of the red tide that was still lingering along the shore. I finally made it to the beach, it's beauty is always so mesmerizing and leaves me feeling like a kid in the candy store. I decided to put my feet in the water and on my way to the shore I looked down to discover the most sculptural seashells and just had to collect them because these were the kind of seashells that reminded you that nature is really just abstract surrealism.

"I have to paint these seashells", I thought to myself as I glanced up at the sky getting lost at the interim where the ocean meets the clouds. It's so tranquil and calming as the subtle waves gently move to and from the shore. Every time that I am at the beach, I always feel like it is the closest thing to heaven. The seagulls are softly squawking up and down the sand and for a Thursday there aren't many people out here. I guess that's a good thing as I prefer a less crowded beach anyhow. 

Walking back to my blanket slowly, I started thinking so many thoughts; "Am I happy?", "Am I truly living life"? ,"Do I miss him"? ,"Will I ever learn how to sew"? etc. I decided to sit down and journal to clear my head and materialize my contemplations. I looked up to discover an unfamiliar voice "What are you writing? Is it any good"? He asked. I smiled and replied "Well I am writing a blog. But really it's an amalgam of life lessons and experiences and coming to the beach is really just spiritually cleansing for me" I said. He looked at me and said, "So Serious", I paused and nervously laughed then replied, "It may be for now, but it isn't always".

My response prompted him to ask me if I wanted to do something spontaneous, I laughed again. He looked at me as if my awkwardness didn't suffice as an answer. I hesitated but he insisted and even when I jokingly told him that I was nervous - he eagerly just stood there. Why not? What do I have to lose? "Follow me", he said. I quickly packed my belongings into my Blick tote and followed him back down to the shore. He pointed to the sky/ocean and proceeded to ask me to name the three things that I saw. I told him that I saw; heaven, myself and when I carefully looked at the clouds there were always images there for me to decipher. He paused then said, "Of all the people that I have asked, your answers were by far the deepest". I laughed again.

He then proceeded to tell me that everyone answers that question by looking outward and that no one ever looks down to witness the waves cleansing the shore. That no one ever takes the time to admire their feet being gently held by the sand. "Breathe", he said. "You are so concerned with everything outside of yourself that you forget to live in the moment. Many people accumulate things to enjoy life but we have life so that we can accumulate moments".

"Mindfulness", I interjected finally looking up from the sand. I felt such shame and deep emotion all at once because he was saying just what I needed to hear. I came to the beach because I felt lost and unaccomplished when really, I have so many reasons to be grateful. We walked back to the shore and began talking about my family, ambitions, etc.  He was curious about who I was and how I became such an overachiever in life. We spoke about relationships which prompted him to tell me tidbits about his life. He went on to tell me that after just five minutes of talking to me he could tell that I was a person that desperately wanted to be seen and heard.

I felt the tears weld up in my eyes from the back of my throat and all I could do at that moment was smile and agree. I told him that whenever I came to the beach, we would have to have another conversation. He was heading back to his post but before he left, he asked for a hug. We quickly embraced and as he was walking away, he said to me "Rewrite the last sentence in your book to say this. The next time a stranger asks you to be spontaneous take the opportunity because it might change your life". His name is Jamie and he is a lifeguard. A lifeguard that saved my life on dry land by  reminding me of how important and powerful it is to be mindful of your spirit and not to get lost in the things that society teaches you. Jamie saw ME that day and it felt good to have someone not only speak to me but to the depths within me also.

I share that story to say this, being mindful isn't just a mindset. It's an immeasurable connection to self through spirit and if you don't have anyone like Jamie to remind you of its importance, please continue to read so that you can learn how you can attain these revelations for yourself because self love evolves through so many ways with mindfulness being a very important one. 

HOW TO BECOME MINDFUL IN 3 SIMPLE TIPS

1. BREATHE - Close your eyes and take a deep breath, if you are familiar with mediation practice that here. Pick a quiet place with high energy to sit with yourself; sit upright maintaining good posture with your palms facing up on your thighs, place your focus on your breath while taking heed to the environment around you, as you breathe in and out imagine your breath becoming one with your surroundings, as you continue to breathe - thoughts will arise so honor them as they come (judging your thoughts can only hinder you from the lessons that they have to teach you. Ignoring them or dismissing them will only train your mind to become "fixed") by noting them and returning your focus back to your in and out breaths/posture. If you cannot commit to daily meditation I highly you suggest that every time you wake up in the morning before you get out of bed close your eyes and take three deep breaths then pray. At times we get so busy that we forget to give our burdens to GOD, we forget that we cannot do it alone because of our limitations however breath is so powerful in that it frequently reminds us that it's the only tangible thing that we have in this present moment, day and time. Its the only thing connecting us to the divine.
2. GET A PET - If you can afford to and have the patience for a pet definitely get one. Pets effortlessly teach you how to be present and happy in every moment no matter the circumstance. Whenever I walk my sister's dog, the first thing she will do is stop to smell the air. She stands wherever the sun is facing and every time the wind blows she stops whatever she is doing and faces in that area also. I have to be honest and say that there were times when I wanted to rush her so that we can hurry up and get back inside however in these last few weeks, I have learned to mimic her behavior. I never want to be so busy that I cannot appreciate the moments as they come, I never want to be so busy where I cannot appreciate the unconditional that dogs (or anyone else) has to offer. Sometimes just stopping to smell the wind is the best way to reconnect you with your soul. 
3. DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE MORNING ROUTINE - The way that you start your day sets the tone for how the rest of your day will transpire. With boosted energy levels, you will have minimal to no stress. So what exactly is a morning routine? A morning routine is the performance of the same tasks in the same order each day and its been scientifically proven to have both psychological and physical benefits. You can benefit from a morning routine because it will keep you aligned and focused from the time that you wake up causing you to be mindful from the beginning of each day. Having a morning routine enables you to maintain the alertness necessary which results in a productive and positive day. An immediate routine will help to improve your personal, spiritual and professional relationships because if you are calm and centered that'll mean that you are able to be even tempered and compassionate when dealing with others. Start small, developing a morning routine doesn't have to be grand or complicated. Experiment with your favorite activities to find what is right for you. 

CONCLUSION

The benefits of being mindful are so extensive and is not just reserved for those who declare themselves to be spiritual or religious. To effectively live thoroughly and successfully it is imperative for you to frequently check in with yourself because as humans we change repeatedly. As humans we are tested and go through many trials often and I don't believe that most even recognize how often they evolve and as a result they can become low-spirited, uneasy and lack faith. Hold fast to those shifts as subtle reminders that your consciousness was designed to enable you to do the right things in love and light without any exterior coercions or distractions from self.  Honor mindfulness as the basis of who we all are and will continue to be in this present moment.  

All in all, the ultimate goal of mindfulness is to gain a deeper knowledge of self in order to truly feel the impacts of fully connecting to the divine (GOD). Mindfulness teaches us all to slow down and focus past our pain and onto the things that matter not only for ourselves but for the community. Looking outward at those who appear to have it "better" than us will only distract you from who you were sent here to be and what you truly have to offer. If you have learned anything from this excerpt, I hope that you have learned about the grace that comes from just being. 

10 QUOTES ON MINDFULNESS

• "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening". - Genesis 24:63 ESV
• "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment". - Romans 12:2-3 NIV
• "When you are feeling frazzled, put all of your attention on the breath. It's a portal into the present moment, the best remedy for stress". - Ellen Barrett 
• "I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statues; I will not forget your word". - Psalm 119:15-16 ESV
• "How we pay attention to the present moment largely determines the character of our experience, and therefore, the quality of our lives". - Sam Harris
• "Mindfulness is deliberately paying full attention to what is happening around you - in your body, heart, and mind. Mindfulness is awareness without criticism or judgment". - Jan Chozen Bays
• "I remember this day of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done" - Psalm143:5 NIV
• "Mindfulness isn't difficult, we just need to remember to do it" - Sharon Salzberg
• "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" - Matthew 6:34 NIV
• "You make know to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore". - Psalm 16:11

EDITORS NOTE: I went back to that same beach hoping to see and talk to the lifeguard that impacted my life so much and I found out that he retired. I was sad but I thought about what he had told me that day and I became happy again. Our encounter was NOT a coincidence. 

TO THE READER: 

This post was written about three years ago however the impact is still so immense for me. It’s one of the first blog posts written and without a doubt, it’s a daily inspiration. I hope that the impact is as monumental for you as it is for me. 

While you are here, I decided to launch this in the place of the intended post (“Spiritual Warfare On The Familial Structure: Are Traditions Archaic”?) just as a pause/reminder for some weekly introspection. If you have gained anything from this blog, it would have to be a heightened level of self awareness. I want you to be able to self-reflect daily as doing such will allow for emotional maturation and deeper connections with those around you. 

Think about your week and how much of it had your full attention. Can you recollect the moments where you felt the most connected? Did you experience those moments? 

If yes, delve into the details that captivated you. Can you recreate that in your everyday?

If no, don’t panic or feel less than. This is good news! You want to grow and as a result, you are learning. If you haven’t had those moments in the past, you will in the future because from this point on.. we are both dedicated to self improvement. Don’t worry, we are in this together. 

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS MY OPINION AND IT DOESN'T MAKE ME SPECIAL. I JUST LIVE MY LIFE IN CONSTANT RUMINATION AND OBSERVATION. I SHARE MY LIFE IN THE HOPES THAT I CAN HELP OTHERS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IM DOING EITHER.