At the beginning of week 4, Lorayne shared a picture, similar to the one above, showing a field full of poppies. She directed our attention first to the flowers and then to the warmth of the sun in the distance. I find these short moments of reflection in this class very powerful because I'm not able to set aside much time for personal reflection. Like many of the participants in this class, I have a full-time job and a family that requires my attention outside of work hours. With this said, I do cherish all the small moments spent with my kids.
One moment I remember fondly in Korea, was a sunny afternoon spent with my wife and daughter, Myles, along a river bank near our apartment. We found a field of yellow flowers and we managed to take some time out of our busy day to appreciate their beauty. I remember the feel of the warm sun on this day, how clean the air felt and the smell of the flowers. It is crazy how this moment seems so fresh to me - I believe it is because I paused to appreciate the simple beauty of this occasion.
As written in his book, "mindfulness means paying attention is a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmental. This kind of attention nurtures greater awareness, clarity, and acceptance of present moment reality. If we are not fully present for many of these moments, we may no only miss what is most valuable in our lives but also fail to realize the richness and depth of our possibilities for growth and transformation."
Based on this reading, I will try hit the "pause" button on life more so that I'm able to enjoy more moments like these with my family. As Jon states, "Mindfulness is the polar opposite of taking life for granted."
I'm confident, this is one of the most profound lessons I've learned through this course. For this reason, I believe Lorayne's lessons really do transcend her course objectives!
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