This morning I went for a walk, it was early and very few people were about, a couple of dog walkers and a few drivers. I walked for about 20 minutes and met a women going in the opposite direction. We politely smiled and said hello and continued. I was doing a long loop of a walk which would take about an hour, popping into the shops on the way to get a few bits and bobs for the week ahead.
After a further 20 minutes and I entered the supermarket through one entrance and at exactly the same time the same women was coming in the opposite entrance, we had a wee chuckle. Perfect timing. I did my shopping and walked the 10 minutes or so home to get on with my day.
I’ve never seen the women before and the chances of us doing that again so perfectly timed is pretty much nil. But it made us both smile.
Many things in our life are about perfect timing. From cooking the best steak, baking a cake, meeting our partner or getting the job we love. Some are on purpose and others are completely random and unplanned. You were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time as well as being in the moment to notice.
I wouldn’t say I usually walk mindfully or usually pay attention to the small things, but perhaps because it was quiet and early, I was noticing everything and was present.
At the very start of my walk, I saw a rabbit cross the road, had I been a minute sooner or later, I would have missed it. Not a big deal but it made me smile as I said hello to it as it stopped to munch on the grass.
We come across so many unique moments in our day, but don’t pay attention to them because they don’t matter and really don’t make the slightest bit of difference to our day. Quite often you will only notice if it is of significance such as a near miss, spotting a beautiful deer on your walk or spotting a shooting star.
Think about your day so far today or yesterday. What did you do and what did you notice? It may have only been one thing you came across or saw but didn’t think anything of it. But everything you do at any given moment will be unique in time to show you something you would have otherwise missed.
For example, going back to my walk, if I take it to extremes, the cars that passed me wouldn’t have done so had I left earlier or later and this could be said about everything from the dog walkers I saw, the cyclist that passed me and even the assistant in the supermarket who had to come and help me when the self scanner was having issues with my fruit. Would I have had the same issue if I had I gone to a different checkout? What about about the birds I saw on my walk, the pigeons on the footpath. Nothing would be as it was had I not gone for my walk at that specific time.
Whilst most of this is insignificant, and has no effect on our day whatsoever, no matter how samey you feel your days are, they are in fact different. It’s these tiny points that vary your day if you do the same routine, day in, day out and feel like you are in Groundhog Day or The Truman Show.
You may experience hundreds of unique moments throughout your day, but for me so far today only two points have resonated with me – the women I met and the rabbit crossing the road. For you it could be meeting someone who smiled at you whilst you were in the supermarket or choosing a new item from the menu when out for dinner with friends and having the best meal of your life or even looking out your window and noticing the birds at that moment in your garden.
Essentially this is all about being present and mindful of what is happening around you. We are often so caught up in our own bubble we miss all that is going on.
Being mindful isn’t just about focusing on the walk you are on or the task you are doing, it’s about being mindful throughout your day. Paying attention to all that is happening in the here and now. Something insignificant you would otherwise ignore can leave you with a smile or a song in your heart if you notice it. It can change your day, your feelings and even your mind.
As you go about your day, watch what is happening all around you and notice what you would have otherwise missed. Small things can have a big impact, you won’t know unless you look.
Have a lovely week. Thank you for reading.
Love Emma xx
Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender 