Living a Mindful Life Lesson 7: In Search for Unconditional Love

I know, I know, I should've posted a picture of my family here. This morning, my sweet Morgan, my Golden Retriever puppy, was such a lover girl I had to pick her for the photo shoot.

Love is a tricky thing. Different cultures have different words for different kinds of love. If I was an expert linguist, I would give examples here, but, alas, I'm not. Google it if you are interested. In English, we only have "love" to mean a whole hoard of things from loving french fries to loving a band and loving your grandmother.

In a mindful life, the most purest of love is unconditional love. This love endures unchanged regardless of the situation. If you are lucky in life you have at least one person, or even breathing being, who loves you no matter what. That's what is so great about dogs: you can scold them one minute for chewing up a kitchen chair and the next she is showering you with snuggles and kisses.

The challenge is not to abuse this special gift. I have very few people in my life that I can count on my fingers who I know love me unconditionally. Thank God I can count my parents and my husband among them. In my mindful living epiphany today, I realize that I need to hold these relationships above all other. Sure I have great friends, loving family members and some good acquaintances. But it is these handful of people in my life who continue to love and support me through good and bad. It is these people that I vow to hold close to my chest and protect like baby birds. This honor of unconditional love is special and worth safeguarding for life.

Living a Mindful Life Lesson 6: Winning Isn't It

I guess here is a good place to announce that I didn't win the Valentine's Day card contest. I was a bit disappointed because I thought my designs were really cute and perfect for kids to color. Thing is, the judges simply have different taste than I do.

When I was young, one thing my father always said to me when faced with a challenge: "The only sure fire way to fail, is to not do it." In living a mindful life, I have to "go for" things that are important to me for whatever reason. The contest idea sparked interest and propelled me forward creatively. I drew: something I haven't done in a really long time. I learn a new design program: something I found exhilarating . I tried. I lost. But not really.

I gained some lost confidence in my talent. I acquired some hard earned knowledge of Corel Draw. And I tried, so I didn't fail.

Living a Mindful Life Lesson 5: Peanut Butter Addiction Revisited

We all have our addictions. Perhaps it is reality TV or trash mags. Maybe it’s chewing gum, food, 5 o’clock cocktail or even sucking on cherry flavored lozenges. ONE of my addictions, fortunately and unfortunately, is peanut butter. When asked: “If you needed to gain 10 lbs. and could only eat one food what would it be?” Peanut Butter. I love it on hot toast, all melty, with raisins on top. On saltines (with raisins on top), on apples, bananas, and, especially a spoonful encrusted with dark chocolate chips. But the absolute premiere what to ingest PB is as is scooped up high on a spoon. I even have claim on the first scoop out of a fresh jar (I call a “freshie”) because it is the softest, creamiest spoonful in the jar. I’m proving Pavolv’s theory as I type. Excuse me as I wipe the drool off my chin. So, if I don’t “watch it” I can find myself mindlessly shoveling PB like a farmer on manure.

Lately, I have been trying to really enjoy my PB experiences. Taking only a bit and savoring every cellular molecule. I find that I am eating less of it and that I am more satisfied with my feast than every before. Take a look at your addictions. Is there a way you can mindfully enjoy them so you have them more under your control and are more satisfied? Perhaps you pick one show to watch or one mag to read. Maybe you only have your cocktail on the weekend or chew gum or suck lollipops after a meal. Whatever it is, reel it in a bit and mindfully enjoy each moment of it.

Living a Mindful Life Lesson 4: Windowpane Gratitude

Being grateful for the people and blessings around you helps create a mindful sense of being. Sometimes it is hard to be thankful, especially if you are in the midst of trauma, drama or living in the future.
Yesterday I was drying my hair. Every time I dry the right side, I'm looking out our single window in our rather small bathroom. The view is a beautiful snapshot of our back yard. I especially enjoy it in the summer when all the plants are in their glory. Now it is winter and yesterday there was condensation on the window. I reached over with my free hand and drew a symbol for six things I was grateful for at that moment: one in each of the bottom panes. Some were really meaningful--those are the easy ones. But a couple were part of the mundane, little things that get overlooked when I am wanting more. Then I smiled.
Naming your gratuities gives them weight and power. You don't have to write them down or draw them out on frosted glass. You can simply name them in your head. Maybe when you brush your teeth (be grateful you live in the Age of Fluoride) or when you a driving (hey, cars don't poop like horses did), think of a gratitude at every stop light. Whenever it is, find a routine for being grateful on a daily basis.

Living a Mindful Life Lesson 3: Rudolph Finds a New Nose

One consideration of living a mindful life in to be in tune with what makes you feel good about yourself and your world around you. Sometimes you have to try something new to achieve a bit of joy. When I turned thirty, I thought I would never get another breakout again. I was an adult after all. Clear skin has always been a goal of mine. I never go a day without washing and moisturising my face. Well now I am forty, yes, forty, and I still get those darned pimples. The ones I hate the most are the ones that are big, red, and painful and nothing comes out of them. At least you get some satisfaction out of the other ones when you squeeze! I got one of these Big Reds on my nose the other day (OK, you can stop with the Rudolph jokes). I remembered reading an article in one of those fashion magazines about using Preparation H (yes, honey, hemorrhoid cream) on red pimples to take out the swelling and the redness. I was desperate, so I got some and tried it. It smelled weird and was greasy so I put it on at night and then the next morning it was down quite a bit. I wasn't going anywhere that day, so I greased up again and by the time I picked up my kids, it was down far enough that I could actually cover it up with concealer. Ahhh, even the illusion of clear skin makes me feel better. Find out what your body, heart, soul needs. Maybe it is a hot chocolate chip cookie. Or sitting in the sun (use sunscreen). Try juicing or yoga or a new kind of food. Whatever it is, just take a chance--in a mindful way, of course.