Having friends come visit can ramp up the activity level while simultaneously creating a space for relaxation and reflection. This past week we had 18 different friends (half of whom were under the age of 6!) come visit us on the farm. Apparently after you make it through the first month in a new place people feel like it’s been an appropriate amount of time to wait before coming to call. And we were excited to welcome them!
Accomplishment Mentality
Leading up to the visits we were in a heightened state of trying to accomplish projects, clean the house and grounds, meal plan and prep as much food as possible. For an achievement oriented person like myself it’s easy to get in a to-do list mode where every spare moment is spent checking items off the list. While that is certainly important, it’s not the most important thing. I’m often reminded of the story in the Bible where Jesus rebukes Martha for being so busy that she’s not present in the moment like her sister Mary. I am often Martha. I am working on projects, making food, doing dishes, washing laundry, pulling weeds, designing garden space…but if I’m not intentional, it’s easy to miss the little moments. Like seeing a kid’s delight in watching the construction taking place on the new house. Or spending an extra 10 minutes so the kids can help roll out the pie dough rather than efficiently completing it with no extra sticky hands in the flour. But those moments are a huge part of why we’ve chosen this new lifestyle. So how do we intentionally remain mindful throughout our days?
What is mindfulness?
While there are many definitions, essentially it boils down to bringing your attention to experiences occurring in the present moment. During my time at DU I took a few courses that incorporated mindfulness practices and spent some time exploring apps like Headspace to learn more tips and tricks. Many mindfulness gurus will recommend sitting with your feet flat on the floor, eyes closed, taking in all the sensations around you (sounds, temperatures, smells, etc) while letting thoughts drift in and drift out – noticing, but not acting on anything. While that form of meditation works for some people, I’ve found realistically in my current context that simply pausing periodically, taking a deep breath and looking around me has a similar effect.
Relishing the little moments
Steve is much better at recognizing those moments and encouraging me to stop and do the same. Just this morning the house was quiet and I was about to dive into a cooking project, but instead he invited me to come enjoy time picking cherries out in the beautiful morning sun. Having our friends in town led to similar moments. For the first time since we’ve moved out here we set up a spot for making a campfire, roasting marshmallows for s’mores and enjoying the night sky. Looking at the stars and finding the constellations is a magical experience, no matter what age. We also took advantage of the time to explore our surroundings a bit more – swimming at the beach, fishing at the creek, hiking along the ridge. Even time spent weeding and chatting with friends provided a time and space to pause, reflect, and be in the present moment.
So in this busy summer season, we’ll make hay when the sun shines…but we’ll also intentionally practice mindfulness to soak in these precious moments. How do you keep yourself grounded in the present while still checking things off your to-do list? Is it an app? Physical activity? Silent meditation? What works for you? We’d love to have you share in the comments below!
