"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. - A.A. Milne
Ah Pooh! We know what that is called, mindfulness! Pooh is practicing mindfulness without even knowing it. So for the remainder of this month, just before you are about to do something that makes you happy, stop and savor the moment.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
"It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy."
- Lucille Ball
I'm late with my post this month so we have just three weeks for assignments.
Week 1: Go for a swim or wade in a pond. You might not be able to do this everyday but try for once or twice during the week.
Week 2: Spend 5 to 10 minutes observing your breathe. Notice how the air fills your lungs, notice the temperature of the air.
Week 3: Eat a piece fruit mindfully. First look at it, notice the texture of the skin, the fragrance of the fruit, notice how it feels against your lips as you bring it to your mouth, take a bite, notice the taste and texture of the fruit in your mouth.
- Lucille Ball
I'm late with my post this month so we have just three weeks for assignments.
Week 1: Go for a swim or wade in a pond. You might not be able to do this everyday but try for once or twice during the week.
Week 2: Spend 5 to 10 minutes observing your breathe. Notice how the air fills your lungs, notice the temperature of the air.
Week 3: Eat a piece fruit mindfully. First look at it, notice the texture of the skin, the fragrance of the fruit, notice how it feels against your lips as you bring it to your mouth, take a bite, notice the taste and texture of the fruit in your mouth.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Spring is fully in bloom. Be mindful of the flowers and trees, notice the color, texture and scent when admiring these spring gifts.
Week 1: Watch the sunrise. Notice the colors in the sky as the sun rises and remember this day is a gift.
Week 2: Eat a meal or snack outside. You can go to a park or sit in your backyard.
Week 3: Donate some food to a local homeless shelter or food pantry which distributes to others in need.
Week 4: Watch the sunset. Notice the colors in the sky, the shadows in the landscape and remember at least one good thing happened today.
Week 1: Watch the sunrise. Notice the colors in the sky as the sun rises and remember this day is a gift.
Week 2: Eat a meal or snack outside. You can go to a park or sit in your backyard.
Week 3: Donate some food to a local homeless shelter or food pantry which distributes to others in need.
Week 4: Watch the sunset. Notice the colors in the sky, the shadows in the landscape and remember at least one good thing happened today.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Remember, it is not only the big things that make you happy!
Week 1: Take one picture every day. You can use your digital camera, buy a disposable camera, or use your cell phone. Take a picture of a pretty landscape, animals, something that makes you laugh or looks weird. At the end of the week you can print out any of the pictures that you really like.
Week 2: Share your pictures with a family member or friend. All of those pictures you took last week can be shared with someone to make them smile!
Week 3: Write down one thing you are grateful for every day.
Week 4: At the end of each day, find meaning in something that went wrong or upset you. If you think about the deeper meaning of upsetting events it can help you let go. Maybe you were meant to learn something about yourself, your strengths, your needs.
Week 1: Take one picture every day. You can use your digital camera, buy a disposable camera, or use your cell phone. Take a picture of a pretty landscape, animals, something that makes you laugh or looks weird. At the end of the week you can print out any of the pictures that you really like.
Week 2: Share your pictures with a family member or friend. All of those pictures you took last week can be shared with someone to make them smile!
Week 3: Write down one thing you are grateful for every day.
Week 4: At the end of each day, find meaning in something that went wrong or upset you. If you think about the deeper meaning of upsetting events it can help you let go. Maybe you were meant to learn something about yourself, your strengths, your needs.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Spring is almost here. It is a time for renewal and time to continue your mindful happiness quest! Here are the March assignments.
Week 1: Do something nice for someone you don't know. Hold the door for someone going into or out of a store even if the person is 5 to 10 steps behind you. When they thank you, look at them when you say "You're welcome." Here's a challenge, let someone who has more items than you go ahead of you in the checkout line! Give a compliment on something someone is wearing.
Week 2: Do something nice for someone you know. Take your neighbor's trash can or newspaper up from the curb. Give a friend a shoulder massage.
Week 3: Organize one thing in your home daily. Clean out the kitchen junk drawer, work on cleaning out a closet, the basement or garage.
Week 4: Give something away. Maybe old clothing and/or household items you found when working on week 3 tasks.
Week 1: Do something nice for someone you don't know. Hold the door for someone going into or out of a store even if the person is 5 to 10 steps behind you. When they thank you, look at them when you say "You're welcome." Here's a challenge, let someone who has more items than you go ahead of you in the checkout line! Give a compliment on something someone is wearing.
Week 2: Do something nice for someone you know. Take your neighbor's trash can or newspaper up from the curb. Give a friend a shoulder massage.
Week 3: Organize one thing in your home daily. Clean out the kitchen junk drawer, work on cleaning out a closet, the basement or garage.
Week 4: Give something away. Maybe old clothing and/or household items you found when working on week 3 tasks.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
February, 2012
Here we are with spring time temperatures in Pennsylvania. If these beautiful days continue, we may have an early spring!
Week 1: Get outside and walk for 10 minutes every day, no matter what the weather. At the end of the 10 minutes, you can stop or if you feel like it you can keep going. However, you are under no obligation to continue past the 10 minutes.
Week 2: Get into the sunshine! You can go outside or sit by a window where the sun is shining in, sit or stand and relax for 15 minutes.
Week 3: Smile at least 10 times per day. Smile at other people, your family, coworkers, people in the supermarket. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Yes, I know this sounds strange (the part about smiling at yourself) but smiles help lift the mood.
Week 4: Go to bed one half hour earlier than you normally do. You do not have to go to sleep immediately. This extra half hour can help you get to sleep earlier than usual. Studies show that adequate sleep guards against depression.
Here we are with spring time temperatures in Pennsylvania. If these beautiful days continue, we may have an early spring!
Week 1: Get outside and walk for 10 minutes every day, no matter what the weather. At the end of the 10 minutes, you can stop or if you feel like it you can keep going. However, you are under no obligation to continue past the 10 minutes.
Week 2: Get into the sunshine! You can go outside or sit by a window where the sun is shining in, sit or stand and relax for 15 minutes.
Week 3: Smile at least 10 times per day. Smile at other people, your family, coworkers, people in the supermarket. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Yes, I know this sounds strange (the part about smiling at yourself) but smiles help lift the mood.
Week 4: Go to bed one half hour earlier than you normally do. You do not have to go to sleep immediately. This extra half hour can help you get to sleep earlier than usual. Studies show that adequate sleep guards against depression.
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