I have a new wallpaper on my phone. It’s to serve as a reminder, and says, simply,
YOU
ARE
HERE
Since November, I’ve been overseas on workation and as business travel tends to go, I've been mentally two steps ahead of every move.
Before leaving Melbourne there was wrapping up to do; put my stuff into storage, book what I could in advance, pack for winter, leave an "out of the country 'til 2016" voicemail.
After leaving, my mind was on where I was going next; where am I staying, who am I meeting, how much currency should I exchange, what food will I eat (very important), when on earth will the Australian dollar become stronger...
Now, my mind is on what happens I get back to Melbourne; move back to my apartment, get stuff out of storage, sell old furniture that I no longer like, buy new furniture that I have a crush on. (Insomniac hours have been filled with online sofas, dining tables, bed frames, prints, colours, and all the things one doesn't particularly need to be thinking about when without permanent place of abode.)
While surrounded by the beauty of London, Marseille, and Paris in the winter, I’ve caught myself focusing more on the future and where I’m due to be, rather than where I am.
Mindfulness is the art of being aware and open to what’s around you at the very present, and all the things it can bring. I call it an art because it takes regular practice and commitment to attain and maintain.
But as cliché as it may sound, so much can be gained by living in the moment. Because regardless of where you are in the world, there are things, people and places around you to enjoy, learn from and appreciate - right here, right now.
As I type, the Eiffel Tower has come alive in an array of sparkles right in front of where I'm sitting in Paris. And it’s another reminder that I am here. Where are you?
image via hyperterritories.wordpress.com