Left Brain Buddha is reclaiming Mondays! Not manic, but mindful. Each Monday I share a short passage or mantra for a moment with the breath, accompanied by a photo from my photographer {my husband 🙂 }. I share highlights from my Smile File for the week ~ and I hope you’ll take time to reflect on your smiles from the past week. Breathe, smile, and move into your Monday with mindfulness.
Words for a Mindful Moment with the Breath
Today’s words come from Buddhist nun Pema Chodron, from The Pocket Pema Chodron:
Rejoice in ordinary life
We can learn to rejoice in even the smallest blessings our life holds. It is easy to miss our own good fortune; often happiness comes in ways we don’t even notice….
The key is to be here, fully connected with the moment, paying attention to the details of ordinary life….
When we scrub a vegetable or brush our hair, we are expressing appreciation: friendship toward ourselves and toward the living quality that is found in everything. This combination of mindfulness and appreciation connects us fully with reality and brings us joy.
Highlights from the Smile File
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It’s hard to not get all sentimental about the Mother’s Day wishes! I am loving that my daughter especially is at the age where she loves writing me notes and constantly tells me that she loves me “higher than outer space.” I would never have imagined 10 years ago that I would be so moved by the drawings and writings below celebrating my domesticity ~ making good food, shopping at Target, sitting in a rocking chair ~ but I can’t imagine anything else right now!
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Playdate Bliss: I am also loving that as my children are getting older (6 and almost-4), playdates are getting easier. {So to the mothers of very young kids, the “it gets easier” advice sometimes is actually true!} Our playdate this weekend was great for the kids, but just as importantly, the kids could play on their own, and I had a great time talking and connecting with other moms! Thanks to my friend Becky for arranging it! Kids and parents need time with their friends!
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Finally, I woke up this morning to see a lovely Facebook post from a mom-friend, describing mindfully enjoying a Mother’s Day moment with her son ~ plans for the rest of the day tried to take over, but she remembered this blog and took time to savor the moment. I can’t imagine a better validation of what I am doing. It truly warms my heart and makes me smile to see others experience the riches of mindfulness in their lives! 🙂
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{Blog Note: I updated the What I’m Reading page this weekend with some great links, and I added a Resources page you can check out if you’re looking for some left-brain indulgence to start your week!}
Have you started a Smile File yet? What made you smile last week? I’d love to hear from you!
Have a great week!
Peace~
Sarah
- A Mindful Approach to New Year’s Resolutions - January 13, 2020
- Just This Next Step - December 16, 2019
- WAIT: A Mindfulness Practice for Waiting in Line - December 9, 2019
