Tag: Well being

Oh!

en español

I will start a workshop on mindfulness next week. Some ask what is it that many people are talking about mindfulness.

Well, there are many good things about practicing mindfulness, but I can tell you that one that amaze me is the “oh!” or the “aha!” moment.

Let me explain. The continuous practice allows you to be more conscious. Conscious about what you’re feeling, how you are confronting situations in your life.

That’s when the “oh!” moment gets in. Suddenly, a situation makes you feel bad, or angry. But you realise that. So, instead of reacting to the situation, you are conscious of how it makes you feel. You make a pause, could be a small but conscious pause, and then you say to yourself: aha! I’m feeling angry, but – for example – it’s not the person that makes me feel angry, but what he or she said. So I can act according to the situation. I may say: I don’t like the way you are talking, I feel angry.

In doing that, one can approach the situation without an angry reaction, but knowing where you’re standing, and find a better way to solve it.

It could be a situation in which I am judging someone. The “oh!” moment gets in, and I can see that it is my own perspective that gets in the way of understanding other.

So, besides being a practice that help me with my attention, my health, my wellbeing, for me the “oh!” moment is a treasure.

Change

Español

This is a view from a corridor at my new work. Most of the weekdays a arrive before 7 in the morning. Usually, that was the time for meditation.

I’m happy with this work, teaching at another university. But it changed my schedule a lot. So I’m in the process of giving space and time to what I do in a regular basis.

Life offers us with reminders that change is something always present. In my last post I was talking about rituals and life. Somehow, they allowed me to have some order in life, one that stumbles with change.

So now I’m embracing change, testing when is better to do something, and when to do something else. At first I felt some discomfort, but as soon as I realised that, I drew a smile in my face and accepted the new situation.

It’s easy to forget that change is a constant. I tend to feel at ease in my confort zone, and be surprised with change. Impermanence is a fact of life, and to accept it makes the journey great.

Just do it!

Español

A few days ago, we were enjoying an afternoon tea and chatting. Someone said that she couldn’t make time to exercise. You know, take the decision, getting ready, and actually doing it.

Some days later, she was very happy, cause she started with her program. She said that it was like doing the bed (she read the book “Make your bed”, by William H. McRaven), very easy, “Just do it! Make yourself do what you want to do”.

Many of our chores, things we have to do or want to do, are done because we decide to do them. Choose one thing, say when you are going to do it, and keep up with it. Stop asking why, or doing something else instead. Just be prepared and do it.

The same happens with meditation, or riding the bicycle. I know it, I’ve been there. I have been ready for a ride, but decided to do something else. Or I have turned off the alarm in the morning, started thinking about getting ready for my morning meditation, and be overwhelmed by the huge task ahead….and going back to my dreams.

It’s surprising how decision and focus can make in our lives. Just plan ahead, get ready without much thinking, and do the task.

It is today!!!

En español

Although the UN has established a different date for the World Bicycle Day (June 3), many cyclists celebrate such a happy day on April 19th.

The celebration began by Thomas B. Roberts, a Professor at Northern Illinois University. The date refers to the bike “trip” on LSD by Dr. Albert Hofmann in April 1945.

Many would understand why the UN didn’t like such a date. But for many riders it’s just the perfect day. Riding a bicycle may change the perspective of how a person sees the world, and life.

So, take a ride, and enjoy life!

I want a new one!

It’s funny how, without really understanding why, I was looking for different models of bicycles. I was trying to find a new one.

And it happens the same with many of the things I have. Should I get a new tablet, a cellphone? It seems that we get in this continues desire for more, to replace what we have but is still working properly.

It happens with me when thinking on bicycles. There is one better. That one is more beautiful. The other folds in a smaller piece. But I have already

Today, I went out in my Raleigh Sprite. Its a bicycle from the 70’s. I like it, and has some history. Even though, I have kept on thinking of a new bicycle to replace it (a Temple bicycle, for example).

So I got out, pedaling my old Raleigh. It was a short ride. Short but very satisfying. The bike was running fine, without any noise. I was happy of taking out such a beauty.

Why I want to replace it? I like it and works well. And I thought, it’s just this stupid desire, this desease of wanting more.

The ride was a good medicine.