As I continue to nurture my children’s minds and train their bodies, so, too, shall I nourish their souls. Just recently, we started sitting down at least once a week to read together stories that enrich our spirits. As we embark on this journey of mindful living, I will share with you the lessons we pick up along the way – in hopes that they, too, will enlighten you.
I’ve been studying the principles of Taoism and it’s something I’ve been wanting to share with my family. So for our first book, we are reading The Tao of Daily Life
“The beginning of a new day is a wondrous gift. It is a blank page, containing nothing and yet filled with possibilities.” – The Tao of Daily Life by Derek Lin
This week’s reading, entitled “Living In The Moment”, is about living fully in the present. It reminds us to be mindful of the beauty and goodness in each moment, to not dwell on the past and not worry excessively about the future. In order to do so, we need to let go of attachments that hinder us from living our lives to the fullest.
Photo by Troy Redington
We discussed a little bit about our attachments and I’d like to share some of mine with you:
- Books. I’m not exactly sure how this hinders me from being mindful of the present, but it is definitely an attachment. Whenever we go somewhere, anywhere, I have to have a book in my purse or at least in the car. I cannot go anywhere without bringing a book with me. I don’t necessarily read it, it just makes me feel better.
- Relocating. I’ve been so obsessed with wanting to relocate to a more familiar environment ever since I moved to wherever I am now that it prevented me from enjoying my neighborhood. I used to go by everyday unattached to my surroundings, thinking I’m not staying here long – not realizing soon enough that it’s actually making me more miserable.
I’ve been doing better with my second attachment. I’ve loosened my grip on it a little bit and I find that I’m able to enjoy each of my everyday moments better.
What attachments do you have that block you from living fully in the present? Are you willing to let go?
| Con mucho amor, | ||
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I’ve become detached from where we live (pretty much the area in which I’ve lived my entire life) and am finding that there is another place that “feels” like home to me. Any of the enjoyment I’ve previously had in my surroundings has become largely overshadowed by the impending certainty of winter. I started dreading the return of winter almost as soon as it ended last spring. I am longing for a move that I don’t feel comfortable making for at least 5 years (for the sake of my middle child, I don’t want to remove him from his friends…my oldest chose to spend the school year with his Dad, and my youngest is a real go with the flow sort of fellow…though in 5 years HE’LL have an established group of friends and I will again be in the same position.). I am really struggling with this. What are your thoughts?
I believe (and my husband does as well) that a happy mom makes for a happy family. So my advice is to keep your mind and soul healthy (and of course your body too). Go for whatever makes you feel alive again – whether it be to move to a new place or learn to compromise with where you currently are. You have to take care of yourself first before you can even think of others. It may seem like a selfish statement – but it’s totally not. It’s a very selfless act because only when you’re happy and back in love with life will you be able to effectively take care and enjoy your family :)