Cultivate Moments of Mindfulness This Summer
I don’t know the summer habits of people who live in other states since I've spent the majority of my life living in Minnesota, but what I can tell you about folks who live here is that summer is all about how much fun can you have in the months of June, July and August. This can be a wonderful time to experience all of the great offerings that come with warm weather and lakes free of ice.
It is the time of year that cabin dwellers will load up their cars with food and beverages and crawl through thick traffic to their home on a lake to spend time relaxing on the dock, fishing and water skiing. Families are packing up their tents and campers and hitting the road multiple weekends throughout the summer to revel in the nature at state and national parks. They are also checking out the multitude of music and art festivals that dot the Minnesota map and visiting the plethora of local parks and lakes, sometimes both simultaneously. There is SO much to do in the summer here.
My question to you is, when you are bending over backwards to accomplish the feat of “making this the best summer ever”, how often will you slow down to truly feel, see and hear the landscape of your surroundings?
How would you like to cultivate a more mindful summer this year? Here are just a few ideas:
- As you hike through the woods, notice the flowers nestled up next to the path. Stop and take in the bouquet of fragrance from the blooming flowers. Look at those flowers with new eyes. Check out the many veins of the leaves and the subtle, or vibrant, color palette of the petals. And, I mean REALLY look at them – like you’ve never seen a flower before.
- While you are out on your walk around the lake that you frequent most often, how about dipping your toes in for a few moments? Notice how the water feels on your toes? What does the water smell like? What sounds do you hear while you are resting your road weary feet in the water? Try to remain neutral without judgment as you do this exercise. Just be in the moment experiencing what’s right in front of you.
- What about simply feeling the ground beneath your feet? And then, feel your feet on the ground. Notice the connection between you and the earth by being still.
You can do this with all of your senses: smell, touch, hear, taste and sight. Practice an exercise in mindfulness just a few moments each day to honor the many gifts that have been given to our mind and body, and in the process you’ll also be developing a greater sense of calm and awareness.
Summer is a wonderful time for travels and unending fun in the sun. Try to remember periodically to stop, be still and listen. Notice what summer really has to offer you.
As for me, I’m kicking off the summer season by heading to Lake Superior with my family and our camper to take a few days to mindfully gaze at that gorgeous lake and enjoy the quiet and serenity.
Have a wonderfully safe and peaceful summer!
Don’t forget to check out my website, https://www.thevirtuouscircle.net and contact me with any questions about how I can help infuse mindfulness into your daily life, at home or work.