The Present Moment and Small Changes

I'll tell you what happened to me this morning.

I had a pilates class early this morning. After that I was putting on my clothes in the dressing room and as good marketing person showed my new book Ole t?ss? hetkess?. Arjen l?sn?olon taito (A book about being at the present moment - a bit more than mindfulness) to an old lady who also had attended the pilates class.

She took the book and read the preface which is about my mother's death and how the death is one of those rare moments when most of us remember to appreciate the present moment. She read my quite emotional text and then we started talking about life. Seriously.

She had tears in her eyes as she told me how we're never the same when we have lost someone close to us. Her husband had died four years ago. I agreed with her but we both shared the idea of "good" longing. When you long for someone then the person has been important for you.

We started talking more on the theme of my book - being at the present moment. She told me a touching and beautiful story how she had the habit of observing people. She had been doing it for a long time. While doing it she had realised how she was quite critical towards all the people she met. Judging their clothing and appereance. Somehow putting herself above them. She didn't like that and instead started blessing them. Nowadays she gives a blessing to every person she observes in the street. A big change has happened. She feels much better and happier herself. Also the people she encounters seem to be happier. 

As she told this to me she had tears in her eyes again. This time those were the tears of happiness.

Big changes don't always require big actions. An insight is often enough.