“Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.”
-Nadine Stair, 85-year-old, Louisville Kentucky
The quote above is from “Full Catastrophe Living: How to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn”.
That’s the only book I’ve been reading during this summer (still reading it).
Great book.
You Have Only Moments To Live is the title of the first chapter.
I’ve been thinking that the whole summer.
Nadine, at the age of 85, so beautifully captures the message of the book. I’ve tried to follow her though as well as I’ve could.
When we are cuddled together in bed I’ve learned to let go of all the worries and concentrated on just being in that moment.
While walking barefoot I’ve gently pushed all the other thoughts away and just felt the ground under my feet.
I’ve just watched our girls playing in the forest without doing anything at the same time.
In the vegetable garden I’ve just listened to the silence around me.
When my husband have cooked, I’ve sat and calmed down to concentrate just tasting the food.
Only one thought, but what a positive effect it has had on my ability to relax, be present and enjoy life as it is!
Things are never perfectly well in our bodies and minds. There’s always something that distracts us and can prevent us from living mindfully.
The more we accept life’s imperfections, the easier it is for us to let go of the things that bother us.
And when we are able to let go of the past and the future, the only thing that is left is the present. That moment.
A moment, and a chance to just live in it, and get the most out of it.
It’s easier to practice mindfulness close to nature’s peace and silence. That’s why nature is a great place to start learning to live in the moment.
My next step is to take my practice into our everyday life and in more challenging surroundings… We’ll see how it goes.
After this summer there’s no doubt that someday I’d like to be a 85-year-old Mari saying:
“Oh, I’ve had my moments, and I’ve done my best to enjoy them. Moment after moment.”
