29 December 2012

For a Mindful End of the Year

The end of the year puts way too much pressure on our bruised and battered nervous systems, don't you think? It is a time for unusual activities and lots of them. Here is what happens in the short 7-day period between Christmas and New Year's Eve:
  • We eat too much.
  • We drink too much.
  • We meet too many people.
  • We spend more than planned.
  • We make it a point to revise the past year and plan ahead for the new one.
  • And that, on top of all the cooking and cleaning.
To me this is stress, not joy.

This last week of the year seems to be enjoyable only for children, careless as birds. 
Mindful living. Appreciate what you have, by Kanelstrand


I challenge you to spend this day mindfully.

Sit quietly for a moment and reflect. Let the stream of events surround you like the waters of a fast and cold river but don't allow them to carry you away.

Here you are, today, having the only chance to live it to the fullest. 

Treat it like your last day. It really is. You will never have the chance to re-live it again.

Be present in the moment. 

Observe your surroundings. 

Listen to your body. 

Go outside, look around with love and be grateful that you are alive and healthy.

Your priorities will change once you embrace calamity and you will be able to finish off your duties much more efficiently. You will enjoy them, to that matter.

And stress will be no more.

Whatever happens, don't let a moment slip away without you being fully present. The year ends in a couple of days and instead of wasting time for manifestos and affirmations you'd better take action and start living mindfully today.

It is the simplest thing you can do. Just be present here and now.

8 comments:

  1. I think this is a great reminder for all of us. No matter what is going on, I try to spend several times a day just sitting and being mindful of the here and now. Happy New Year.
    Laura

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    1. You are a wise woman! Happy New Year to you too! Hope it is a healthy one for you-

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  2. This is so beautiful and totally needed. I wasn't as calm as I hoped to be over my Christmas vacation but I am forgiving myself - try again next year!

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    1. Thank you, Shelly. Well, you can even try again on New Year's Eve :)

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  3. YEAH to that! Very true words, Sonya. In a way I am lucky, living far away from the rest of my family and not having children, all of which means a lot less stress during this time of the year. Still I miss them :)

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    1. Claudia, I can understand you perfectly well, I am in almost the same boat and yet stress can be found :) Thank you for stopping by.

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  4. This year I've felt my stress build up and turn things to a blur during the days before Christmas —even though I don't have the pressure of a family reunion, much like you two. :)

    I always feel these last days between Christmas and new year are not fully appreciated... This time I'm trying to make them special by being productive.

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  5. This is a great post and something that I plan on doing today and tomorrow since I have the time off. Even though I did not know anyone in Newtown, CT personally, I did go through a grieving stage (nothing like the families there of course) and then to put the stress of the holidays on top of that and finals at school really put me in a bit of a funk. Not to mention that it is winter and I live in Michigan and do not like the cold.

    One of my resolutions is to take the time to appreciate things and those that I love because there are those that have nothing and no one.

    Thanks again for this post.

    Porsha Deun
    www.porshadeunscorner.blogspot.com

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