Agree?
I have a few questions for you….
How are you doing today?
What’s on your plate?
Are there more than 10 items or under?
Are you looking forward to the day and what it is going to bring forth?
Or Are you already dreading the day[s] ahead..?
I know that’s a lot of questions, but spend a few minutes and think about them… If you answered Yes or something positive to them, you are alright, but if otherwise, then it is something to ponder about… Agree?
Over the years, I have been observing people, how their mind works and it continues to fascinate me.. There are some [err aka ME] who live life one day at a time, and very happy, and then are the others who are constantly bogged down by what lies ahead, what tomorrow is going to be, what is happening in the world, how is their life going to change…
Essentially have understood that people fall into one of the three categories- thinkers, over thinkers and non-thinkers… Do you know which one you belong to?
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs
If you look at yourself and those around you, you will notice how people are always doing something, fiddling with something or the other, or looking for something to do. There are rare moments when they sit still or stay calm [even if only for a few minutes].. Having been a freelancer, I work from home most of the time, or there are rare days when am at a client’s office or a café. I have this habit of taking a break every half hour, stretching, walking around, or just doing some neck exercises. That is when I observe those around me, what they are doing, how they are sitting/standing, are they fidgety, etc… Most of the time, I see people on their phones, scrolling through apps, half-heartedly listening to the other person/people at the table, or playing with their food, or drink… Almost like they are unsure what to do if there is silence or nothing to do…
Another thing I have observed, even during my corporate days is people fantasise about a vacation when at work, and when on a holiday worry about work piling up… Something to worry and dwell over.. uff.. Tiring…
Is it that we don’t appreciate living in the present? Do we have “monkey minds” [Buddhists call them/ that btw]? Or is it a fear of reality that stops us from pressing the PAUSE butt/on?
Last night I attended a sound healing session by a dear friend… In that, she kept stressing about how we need to live in the present & feel what we feel at that moment… Made me smile~
Call it being mindful, or just living your life, but I somehow wish more people followed this mantra. It would make life so much easier for them, help them savour the moments, do what they love/enjoy, and make memories as they go along.
Over the last few years, have had so many conversations with family and friends across topics, and most of the time I end up going silent cos they beat me down with the “but what about the day after day after next year” kinda comments. I can’t wrap my head around why they put themselves through so much worry/pain? I do understand and accept that people are different, and not everyone follows the same/similar thought process, but when something isn’t working for you or causing you pain [ to a pint it affects your health], wouldn’t you want to relook at it?
Make a conscious effort to change/alter your ways? Have also come to understand 99.99999% of what we do, and the way we function is due to the conditioning we have grown up with. Our mind is set in its ways & so it takes a lot to make any kind of shift.. So, what about me? What am I like?
Well, I discovered this word not so long ago- Ukiyo- “The floating world” – living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life… It had me smiling to myself “Ahaa, now I know there is a term for the kind of life I lead”…I am happy living in the moment, living each day as if it were the 1st and last.. It might sound impossible, but trust me when I say I do live that way. Yes, there are things from the past that haunt me at times, but those are moments that pass in a few hours and with a few bucket load of tears…
I don’t judge or assume, I am always open to talking/debating/discussing and wish others were more open to this as well….People around me and those I come upon do agree life would be easier and they would feel a lot lighter in the head, but admit they are unable to change… I have no clues if I have always been this way, or if something changed along the way that led to me changing my ways, but I am very at peace with myself.. I dont have expectations from anyone – friends, or family.. These days, I dont shy away from confrontations either – bring it on. I know I havent been placed on this planet to PLEASE anyone and I dont need to JUSTIFY my actions to anyone either.
That said, I consider myself quite responsible, someone people can rely on and trust.. I also have moments where I have felt guilty for not doing something/slinking away and letting someone else handle it. [I guess a lot of it comes from conditioning, from an early age, I have been expected to do certain things, and so on, whereas my sister always had a free reign, she could do whatever she wanted and not be questioned for her choices, and could get away with just about anything, even murder.. and that trend continues till date…] It is tough to break away from this mindset, there are times when it plays in the back of my head, but I have learnt to shut that down and move on….
What are you like? Do you often ponder about the next minute/hour/day/week/month or are you the kind to just go with the flow, living each moment for what it’s worth? Do share…
Leaving you with an interesting video… do listen…
