Stop and Notice

I love this time of year in the desert and although we are a couple of weeks shy of the Vernal Equinox, we are getting a taste of what often feels like spring. Small patches of wildflowers and cacti are in bloom, the wind is picking up a bit more than usual, and the days are definitely getting longer. And being peak season, it also feels as though the wheels are spinning rapidly and I could easily miss all the beauty that Mother Nature is displaying. It feels as though she's saying, "Hey you! Pay attention! I'm showing you my best stuff!"

What inspired this week's thought happened as I was playing pickleball last weekend. The person we were playing against just lost a point then turned around and looked up and said, "I just need to look at the clouds!" After a few seconds, she turned around and said, "OK...now I'm ready!" I loved this. She took a moment to disengage the agitation that can sneak in after losing a point. It was as though she knew all that was needed was a reset and chose to do it. Perhaps it was enhanced because we were gifted with an unusual and spectacular cloud formation that morning. Needless to say, it wasn't wasted on her...she stopped and noticed. 

Following this pickleball moment, I kept experimenting with this idea as I went out for my morning walks. The intention was to use this time as an opportunity to notice all that was in bloom, feel the wind, notice the types of birds crossing my path, watching cloud formations as well as the changing temperature. It's an easy practice to simply stop what you're doing and notice your current experience. It brings us into the present moment through our senses and, in doing so, we practice over and over again, becoming more conscious of both our internal and external environments.

In a deeper discussion about stopping and noticing, a conversation came up about being in situations that are challenging and/or unpleasant, such as a heated familial discussion or the ever-precarious political conversation. In those moments, taking time to pause our own engagement allows us to check-in and notice what's happening in both our body and our emotions. Have you noticed during a heated conversation or disagreement how your body physically reacts? Some common experiences are tight shoulders, clenched jaw, nausea, a rapid heart rate and a rise in blood pressure. So often we forget how intricately linked our thoughts are to our physical body, and that arguing, experiencing moments of rage (road rage perhaps?), negative quips, gossip, or throw-away comments can actually make us unwell, particularly if this is a long pattern of reaction and behavior.

In these situations, stopping and noticing gives us "breathing room" both literally and figuratively to see if our experience can be altered through a different choice. Without the pause, we float along in an unconscious daze acting in ways that are familiar and potentially harmful. Once we awaken to how we physically react, we can begin the often long awakening process of changing our situation or behavior. This is no easy task and requires that we are in touch with our "why". Why are we choosing this and is it important to me? Is it in alignment with my heart, soul, and body as well as how I wish to be living in the world?

The thought this week is to pay attention to the present moment, all of it...the stuff we like as well as the stuff we don't. When we fully sense what's happening, not only are we present but we become empowered.

Easy peasy...stop and notice. Enough said...time to practice!