If you've been reading "Mindful Moment" for any length of time, you'll know that nature often provides me with assistance in my quest to remain mindful.

Recently, I had a busy day planned. A lunchtime speaking engagement was to be followed by an afternoon meeting with my graphic designer (stay tuned for a new and improved look for my website in the coming weeks!). I awoke that morning, looked outside and was greeted by freezing rain.

Upon observing the weather conditions, I called the organizers of my speaking engagement. They confirmed that the meeting was still on and that their membership would be attending. The road crews were doing their best to keep the highways clear and safe, but they certainly had their work cut out for them. So, leaving plenty of time, I set out for my destinations. This is when nature began her latest lesson in mindfullness.

Driving through the freezing rain required my full attention. I didn't have time to think about my pending presentation, meeting or anything else. The driving conditions meant that I could not be distracted. I couldn't "live" five minutes in the future or five minutes in the past; I had to "live" exactly where I was in order to ensure that my full attention was on my driving.

While at my speaking engagement and the meeting with my graphic designer there was a tendancy to mentally race ahead and wonder what the weather, traffic and road conditions would be like on my way home. Thankfully, the mindful awareness that I practice (and preach) kept me grounded in "the now". I was able to focus on my presentation and my interaction with my graphic artist. I realized that worrying about things that were in the future and beyond my control, would be a waste of energy and only serve to take away from my effectiveness in the presentation and meeting.

As you go about your activities this week, I invite you to look to nature for the lessons that it has to teach you.

ENJOY NOW!

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National Library of Canada ISSN 1708-0606

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