For a minute we would simply listen and remember everything that we heard. We would then take turns telling our class mates what our ears had picked up on. It was a mindful exercise I learned when I was only six utilizing only one of my senses. I still use it today, but I've expanded it to include all of them. Here's my senses experience from today.
It was a bright and sunny day with a fresh breeze blowing through, just enough to cool my skin. I looked up above me to be greeted by an eagle soaring in the blue, rising high on the thermals, but not calling. All that could be heard all around me was the thrashing and smashing of the waves breaking on the rocky shore. Gnashing and tumbling back and forth they went, a forever push me pull you motion that continued endlessly.
The merriment from the party of folk in the next barbeque spot, beautiful pebbles strewn as far as the eye could see on the beach before me.
I sat down with my back to the orange rocks, facing the sea. There was no reason to close my eyes, it was all so mesmerizing. The powerful water mixed with the crisp serenity of the sky, almost fading into one another on the horizon but they were just such opposites, it would never come to pass.
I picked up a pebble and rolled it in my hand. Cold to the touch and smooth from rolling and tumbling hundred, thousands of times and being eroded to the perfect size to fit in my palm. I rubbed it under my fingers. TOUCHSTONE. I've always loved them. They have always found a way to calm me and surrender me to a quiet place inside. Where nobody could touch me, nobody could reach me, alone, silent, at peace.
The salty sea spray leapt up and drifted over to my face and I revelled in the sweet kiss of it's tender touch on my ever heating skin, the sun baking down. Pinprickles on my arms and tingling down my spine as I let my emotions pour out of me while feeling, hearing, smelling, touching the earth, the sea, the sun, the sand all around me, all beneath me, above me, within me. It was as if the distinction between my own being and that of the world around me simply fell away. I was unnamed, unknown here but I felt welcomed by nature. My ever forgiving teacher, always finding me when I needed her most.
Mindfulness is important these days, especially with how busy our lives have become. We need to sometimes remind ourselves that it's okay to take a few minutes to ourselves and become immersed in our senses and reset our minds.
