This week’s question is inspired by 2 posts I’ve recently read; Resting in Awareness over at Positively Present (a guest post by Steven from The Emotion Machine) and Taking Inventory by Nadia at Happy Lotus.
Both authors discuss the importance and benefits of taking the time to be still through meditation. Given I am generally about as stationery as a Border Collie on speed dropped in a herd of sheep, coupled with the fact that my brother gave me a meditation CD for Christmas, I think I know the answer to this week’s question…
If you could change one thing about your typical day, what would it be?
My one thing would therefore be, to sit still, breathe, turn off my out of control, crazy arse, spitfire brain and zen out for 10 minutes. In essence, to balance out the high-strung Border Collie with a rotund Labrador napping in the sun.
OK peeps, what one thing would you change about your typical day?
PS. This week’s question was taken from the book “If², 500 Questions for the Game of Life
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Hi Sami.
One thing I would change would be to replace distracted times with continued output. I am already improving in this change, but that is what I would say for the basis of your question.
Unrelated to that, I must say the design here at L L & L sure is cool. The comment field even looks cool. That is good stuff.
Easy answer, Sami — but not so easy to do. I’d wake up just before sunrise every day and be outside to watch the day begin its ‘enlightenment’. That would give me a longer day to enjoy, a happy start to my day, and an invitation to begin the day with a meditative mood.
I’ve become a sleeper-inner’ these past bunch of years, and I really do miss those early quiet hours!
Sami,
You’re making my sternocleidomastoid muscle hurt – again!!
“Given I am generally about as stationery as a Border Collie on speed dropped in a herd of sheep,…”
ha ha ha ha
On a more serious note: I hear what you’re saying about slowing down. Even for the times we don’t intend on slowing down, the process always brings goodness. That’s what I’ve discovered, anyway.
Cheers to more napping in the sunshine! I like it!
What’s one thing I wish to change in my typical day? Hmmm, good question. I’d like to ‘plan’ less and spend more time simply in the moment.
~xo
I’d like add a solid productive hour of coding to my current productive hour of writing. Otherwise I never seem to get around to making the time to cut code. Which is bad.
I’m thinking February before I attempt it. I want the writing to get ingrained first.
Heya
Good question! I think it’s good to take a micro perspective of our lives so that, whilst we are taking the long view in relation to our goals and dreams, we are also making each day count as well. Very cool!
I must say Lori’s comment actually caught my eye – I think I’d like to spend more time outdoors each day. Particularly when I’m at work – sitting in an office I’m totally missing the beautiful Aussie weather outside, which is a real shame.
I’m going outside!!!
Sami, I have the opposite problem. I have no issue sitting still these days so I therefore would love to be more productive and spend my down time doing things such as getting back into my painting rather than wasting it on ‘less useful’ things such as bloody Facebook!!!
Sami, Mine would be to get up earlier than everyone in my house and enjoy the stillness of the morning. I tend to wake up when I need to wake my kids up and it makes for a hectic morning.
Good Ques ……One thing I will love to change is my bed time. I tend to enjoy the evenings/nights when everyone has gone to bed .The problem however is I sometimes get carried away doing one thing or the other and end up in bed quite late and still have to get up my usual time which leaves me tired. Great blog , its was nice being here will be back again …..
@Armen
Hi Armen. Yep, staying focused can be a challenge, especially when you’re online. Emails coming in, reading blogs, surfing the net. It’s a wonder we get anything done! Good for you for making improvements in this area.
Thanks so much for your feedback too. It’s a free WordPress design but I had some great help from my blechie (blog techie) with tweaking it to suit.
@Jeanne
Hey Jeanne. I remember you talking about this on your blog and it sounded like such a serene way to start the day. Hmmm, perhaps this would be a good way for me to bring in my 10 mins of zenning out. I’m an early riser anyway so it could work. Thanks for the inspiration!
@Lori
Hey, that’s MY muscle! How about you find your own to impress everyone with!!
You know, I think being in the moment is actually part of being still for me. I tend to be a future thinker so taking 10 minutes to be still and just being in the moment would be beneficial for me for sure. Of course, I’d be up for a nap in the sunshine too! Take it easy Chicka! xxx
@Dave
I have to say Dave, that a solid hour of coding for me would be akin to a solid hour of neurosurgery! That’s what I have a blechie for (blog techie). Thank God there are others around who know how to code (and enjoy it) or I’d be stuffed!
Getting your writing ingrained first is a good plan in my opinion. A tip that I’ve found useful too is to identify the task you least want to do for the day and do it first thing in the morning so you get it out of the way. Not sure if coding is one of those tasks but if it is, this is a simple but effective way to approach it.
@Katie
Oh I hear you Katie. I remember my days of working for Coke, during winter especially, I’d arrive at the office in the dark and leave in the dark. Sometimes I wouldn’t even leave the building for the entire day! I was almost like one of those deep sea fish that never see light! Looking back, I totally should have taken a break for lunch every day and found somewhere outside to chill out, even if it was for just 15 minutes. I would have been much more centred and productive if I had.
@Kiles
Damn girl, I need to hang out with you more! Need to gets me some of that! I have to say, it’s a big difference from your life pre-bub. I, for one, would love to see you get back into your painting. You’re too talented not to! F*** Facebook.
@Amy
Hi Amy. My partner tends to do the snooze thing so he’s generally running late to get to work, which sets him up for a stressful start to the day. I’m sure he’d totally agree with your answer too! Having kids adds a whole other layer of responsibility (and tiredness) so I can totally see how getting as much sleep as possible is attractive! I hope you find a way to have a more serene start to your day. PS. See my reply comment to Jeanne. I think finding stillness in the morning would totally work for me too. Thanks for adding to the conversation!
@Fatima
Hi Fatima. In my past life, I used to watch a lot of TV and would find myself going to bed late which meant I awoke tired. I’m thankful I don’t do that anymore and tend to get 8 hours most nights. At least what you’re doing sounds far more productive than watching TV! Thanks for stopping by. Great to have you here!
If there’s one thing I want to change about my typical day, that would be to stop thinking. I’m not even close but I know that through constant practice I will be able to master this ultimate test for my spirit. If I could just stop thinking, I would be able to experience what truly IS.
LOL, I’m ashamed to admit that my first reaction to “what would you change about your typical day” was “Get paid for more of it.” ::snort::
Materialism aside….
I think I would try my best to return to those daily morning pages and five minutes living fully in the silence to start out each day. I was more peaceful, and more positive, and much less easily rattled, when I was faithful to the practice.
What a great question, Sami! I’m enjoying everyone’s responses!
WOW…such great ideas…how to pick just one? i think for me….the biggest thing i could change is something someone else already pointed out….STOP thinking! if that is truely possible then maybe i could entertain the idea of sitting quietly. i have been “working” on meditation for a couple of years now…notice the term “working”
interesting post sami!
@Walter
Great to see you back here.
Hey Walter. I know what you mean. What you’re talking about is a big reason I need to learn to sit still. Sometimes my mind drives me crazy with how much chatter goes on. In fact, it’s not uncommon for my mind to have the chatter AND song lyrics playing in the background at the same time! It’s at that point I have to tell all the voices to shut the hell up! It works for about a millisecond.
@Gayze
Yes Gayze, I hear you and I bet a lot of other people do too!
It’s interesting that most of the answers here have been centred around sitting still, quietening the voices and finding the serenity. It goes to show how amped and busy many of us are eh? I wish for you a peaceful, positive day!
@Aileen
Hey there Aileen. You and me both. For me, the sitting still and turning of the chatter are kind of one and the same because they are both so interlinked. Your comment made me realise though, that what’s happening internally (ie the chatter) is causing the busyness externally. It starts with the thoughts. Time for some mind stillness experimenting me thinks! Thanks for joining the conversation.
Sami… That’s easy for me. To get on my bike and ride. Honestly, my meditation comes on my bike when I can tune the world out and just think about my body and breathing. Unfortunately, when I get on the bike right now, my breathing, or lack there of, takes over.
Really… That’s something I should change now. When it warms up here in Dallas I will do that.
Good stuff girl
@Jason
I tend to feel at my most peaceful out amongst the trees or at the beach. Nature seems to do it for me.
Hey there Jason. Hee hee, yeah it’s hard to concentrate on your breathing and zenning out when you’re focused on just getting in enough oxygen to keep your body upright!
Good luck with getting back into the biking!
i would love to wake up earlier
@Farouk
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Farouk. I have the opposite issue – I am an early riser and so can barely stay awake past 8pm. Not good if you’re out for dinner with friends!