The typical ideal modern life is to be always up to date with what is happening around us, our social circles and our communities.
We are also to learn lessons from our past activities as well as plan for the future.
This expectation of all knowing is fueled by modern appliances of cell phones, computers, social media and all manner of communications.
When the fax machine came on the scene, we complained that we can no longer rely on the excuse that "the reply is in the mail". There was the lament that we were reacting to news and information on the spot and that we are no longer giving considered opinions.
Now with social media, not only do we give immediate reactions, we are doing it to total strangers.
The antidote most often cited for this multitasking, attention spreading trend is "mindfulness".
Be aware of the moment, let go of the past and put the future aside for the moment. Just concentrate on the now and what is around us.
With mindfulness, we see what we have been missing while rushing around and we should be absorbing the depth of experience right here, right now.
What can be wrong with that?
But can we always live for the moment and have no purpose or care for tomorrow? Can we really live every day as if it is the last day of our lives and then do it again the next day and the day after?
What about our love ones and precious relationships, can we live for the moment without any care for their's or other's well being?
Are we not going to learn from our past experiences, good or bad, and be a better person tomorrow?
So, is mindfulness of the present a dead end to growth, relationships, and moving forward? A selfish act?
The other parallel phrase is the need to "smell the roses" along the way. How does this work with concentrating our efforts towards our goal?
We all know that goal setting works wonders in achieving something. There is nothing like focusing and single-mindedness to get individuals and teams reach amazing ends.
How do we "smell the roses" while concentrate on our goals, be mindful of the implications of what we are doing, and do good for humanity all at the same time???
There recently was an incident of shark attack in Maui, Hawaii, resulting in the death of a German tourist. The newspapers report a growth of "shark incidents" in recent times there. Still, there are millions and millions of tourist visits each year and most, if not all, participate in activities in the water. Is it not realistic to accept a few shark incidents out of this massive amount of water activity?But can we enter the waters in Maui without wondering about sharks near by?
What about cars, we know car accidents can kill. We know that it is a major cause of injury and fatalities and yet we happily drive around and take motor transportation of all sorts.
Is our attention being overly drawn to sharks in Maui but completely ignoring the dangers of driving?
How can we better direct our attention so that we use it well and not to create undue fear in us?
Is there no end in sight for the amount of concern people put into their lives while global warming can be thought of as a benefit to some in colder climates? What can I do to help global warming? Personally, I ride a bicycle and must pay attention when I do so. Hopefully the drivers are too!
ReplyDeleteThere is another example of how we can only think about one thing at a time. We can only think about Global warming but difficult to keep that in mind while we are in a hurry to get somewhere.
DeleteOr else we think of Global warming and put the risk of cycling in the city somewhat further in the background.
Juggling several things at one time is very stressful for the brain, if we can do it at all.
Can we be mindful of the environment while all the traffic is roaring past us and we are scared of our safety?
It is going to be the BIG DAY soon, 9/11. That is the biggest scare tactic ever. And, its still going on. My view is people who are scared to think, or do things, especially if it isn't pleasing to the culture are truly scared and oppressed. I mean, 9/11 wasn't pleasing to the culture, but 9/11 is still an active FORCE as a form of TERRORISM and vial DESTRUCTION of the human psyche. No respect for individualism, for the freedom to be a human being. JUst a war tactic of a MASS culture against a MASS culture.
ReplyDeleteI like the critical MASS bike rides they had when I was living in Vancouver. But I don't know if they have such a thing where I am living now.