The Lost Art of Mindfulness

Mindfulness seems to be a buzzword lately. Being present in the moment has a lot of advantages.
The Lost Art of Family Connection

Have you ever been someplace with your loved ones only to have everyone looking at their screens? When we took road trips as a kid, we had whole family games and group singing to keep us occupied. That might be looking for car tags from all 50 states. One of my mom’s favorites from childhood was spotting the white horse. I remember one trip to the Bay Area in California where I counted Volkswagen Beetles. I think I got to 100 and quit there were so many of them there.

Both sets of my grandparents lived 45 miles away. Mom made up a song about being almost home to ease the “are we there yet” cries. We started singing it earlier and earlier on the trip home until we’d barely left and were already singing “We’re almost home”. I think Mom regretted it at that point.

The Double-Edged Sword of Technology

When I was taking Mike to see doctors sometimes, they would call on their days off. I remember one day when one called and apologized because he was somewhere with his kids. Another called around 8:00 pm and he also apologized about his children. I wanted to apologize to both for interrupting their family time.

Having grown up having my dad being the only doctor in the county I have mixed feelings about this. Our phone would ring at all hours of the day and night. If it was the hospital and he could answer their question he would or he would get out of bed and go to the hospital.

There were many times when we were out for dinner, our food would come, the phone would ring, and Dad would be called away. The only way he got away from this was on the yearly road trip we took and then he had to hire someone to take over his practice.

In the 90s when I had a horse at K-State Veterinary Hospital I loved that I could email the vet in the middle of the night. He would respond the next day when he was answering emails. This was perfect for me because I could ask a question when I thought of it and not have it slip away.

With cell phones, we all carry a computer in our pockets. This keeps us from being as mindful about what we are doing. It distracts us. And it’s become hard for us not to pay attention to them when we should be engaging with people.

Gone are the days of taking messages like we had to do when I was growing up. It was vital in our house that we did this. Instead, everyone has their own number. Voicemails, texts, and instant messages have become the norm. And I heard the other day someone say if you leave a voicemail don’t expect a response.

Reclaiming Mindfulness in a Distracted World

When I’m constantly distracted by my phone it’s hard to build relationships with others. It also makes it harder to get my work done. And I hate when people expect an immediate response. If I’m working with a client or a group, I’m going to turn my phone off. I don’t need the distraction.

Our lifestyles have made it even harder to be mindful. We’re pulled by distractions everywhere. Our need for immediate gratification has heightened this and we have trouble putting our phones down.

Do you have a team or group that is looking for some forward movement? Do you need to bid adieu to the stagnation that has crept in? Take a break from the distractions. Bring your group or team to Serenity Ranch for a PlayShop. The horses have messages for you. Click the button below to learn more and schedule a Zoom to discuss your group’s needs.

Quiet Your Mind.

Make a Connection in the comments below.

Onward!