Pinch yourself.
If you google the phrase pinch yourself you get millions of results. I suppose I will be adding one more with this post.
As I walked my little doggie Jazzbo along the A1A sidewalk this morning there was a cool breeze brushing my skin. I peered out at the Atlantic ocean. Waves crinkled the surface, the sun stringing diamonds along their crests. A couple of shrimp boats punctuated the horizon, wings spread wide like the pelicans that skimmed the dazzling waves. I could smell and taste the salt in the air. The rumbling crash was audible, its incessance a constant presence to the soundtrack of my life these days.
My life these days? This is it. I still have to pinch myself to realize I live at my beloved beach! This thought made me think of other pinch-worthy moments. A kiss. Walking down an aisle in a wedding gown. Holding my own newborn baby. Walking through the door of a newly purchased home. Stepping onto Holy Ground in Israel.
Many more moments in life only become pinch-worthy in retrospect. We are so often caught up in the busyness of everyday living we miss out on treasured opportunities to be astonished at our good fortune. The crack of a bat as your little boy hits a home run. The phone call saying you’ve got the job. The moment your husband surprises you with flowers for no reason.
Grief, illness, or drama can also suck the ability to savor precious life moments from our very souls. Sometimes it is an effort to pull ourselves up and focus on blessings as opposed to just getting through the day.
Mindfulness is a big buzz word these days. Living in the moment makes us aware of our feelings, yet we don’t have to dwell in them indefinitely. We should acknowledge the moment, but continue moving on. Years of therapy and life experiences helped me realize the value and importance of self awareness. At any given moment, stop and do a check of your five senses. What are you seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, tasting? How is your body responding to your environment? If some of these are not pleasant, that’s ok. Accept that for what it is and move on.
Becoming mindful of our circumstances, even if they are negative, is the first step in improving our lot in life. Wherever you are put your whole self into truly being there. The important thing is to acknowledge where you are and move forward. That is the value of mindfulness. There is always something for which to be thankful even in the midst of misfortune, and there is always someone worse off then you. Don’t wallow in self pity. This is where another idiom of pinch yourself comes into play. An actual pinch can act as chastisement for a negative mindset.
Whether you need an affirming pinch to acknowledge something amazing in your life right now, or a reprimanding pinch to snap you out of the doldrums, DO IT!
More info about mindfulness:
https://brenebrown.com/podcast/finding-focus-and-owning-your-attention/
Comment
Why do you need to pinch yourself? When have you found yourself so busy you miss out on a precious moment? Do you practice mindfulness? Should you? Please share your thoughts by scrolling all the way down and leaving a comment.
Writing Update
Here is a small teaser for my next novel. I will be delving again into women in my family. Here are two of the women who will be featured, this time on my maternal side. My grandmother, Tommie Belle Smith Lord, and my great-grandmother, Harriett (Hattie) Lucille Howell Smith. There will be other mothers and daughters too!
Summer
It is August and it’s hot as Hades just about everywhere in the northern hemisphere of our Earth. I don’t really mind but I know many of you do. Don’t forget to enjoy some summer tunes from my playlist! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0O0nzkESTI&list=PLoDSIU9odXa414AdnnhIyURrlTkjvSNMt
