“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself”
― Henry Miller
I hiked the Cotswold Way in England with my husband a few weeks ago. It was by far the most beautiful hike I’ve ever encountered in my life, nothing else is close. Each buttercup, old brick wall, and church steeple was “indescribably magnificent.” I was an artist and writer narrating to myself the art I saw before me with rapt attention.
I found myself walking far in front than my fellow hikers because amidst this unfathomable beauty, some of my fellow walkers were talking about their financial portfolios, places they’ve been in the past, where they are going next.
HEY, look where you are RIGHT NOW.
Even with the best intentions, if we’ve been shimming the beauty in our world by quickly moving on instead of savoring it or being preoccupied with conversation while viewing it most of our lives, we can’t realistically adopt the type of attention Henry Miller is talking about in that quote above, without incremental practice.
Incremental practice looks like this for me: When I notice an aspect of nature I enjoy: a tree, the breeze, clouds, a hibiscus, the view on a walk in the countryside in England, I make a point of adding five seconds more of undivided attention than usual. Doing this breaks the habit of having momentary enjoyment soon hijacked by the next distracting thought -one not as pleasant as what’s in the moment. Being present is charged with inspiration, bliss, and healing.
Doing this over time, I notice an improved ability to pay attention and enjoy my art and writing, being more fully present to ideas, associations, and connections in the creative process – essential to manifestation.
This is the Modern Day Muse, Aha-phrodite combining mindfulness and creativity in the realm of paying attention; both are a balm for the harshness of the world.
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