The beautiful rainbow….
There it was! A beautiful rainbow. It was gorgeous. What really struck me about it was how it stood out from the clouds and fog. What an amazing sight, all the colours of the spectrum in an arc across the sky. Another one of nature’s spectacular shows- and all for free!
For a moment I was distracted from the frenetic pace of my life. Briefly nothing seemed to matter on this cold and gloomy morning except this wonder. This moment became a transforming moment for me. The ordinary became extraordinary. The rainbow became present to me in a way that has seldom happened before. For a moment I let go of all those things that distract me every day.
Being present….
This wonder made me reflect about the idea of being present. What does that mean? Does it mean that we need to be always meditating?!! It’s hard to take in every moment and to be fully aware of the here and now. Believe me, I try! There are so many distractions and so many things available to us at the click of a button, to take us away from what is going on around us. Do we ever really remain present to the present? It can at times be more comfortable to get lost in something else!! Being present can be scary! Do I really want to know what is going on for me? Am I better off not knowing?
Don’t resist it!
People like Carl Jung, a famous Swiss psychiatrist once suggested that whatever we resist persists. What he seems to be saying is that the more we avoid something, the more it stays with us! The lessons keep coming until we have learned and asked ourselves why does this keep happening to me?! Constant distraction from what we really need to be present to is so accessible. It makes sense. Being present to the moment means feeling all that the moment brings. It can be comfortable but also uncomfortable. But it is important to stay with the discomfort also, not resisting anymore but going with the flow. I find that hard at times and sometimes I just don’t want to! My teeming brain won’t let me. I consider it a luxury to be able to do so!! I can only think about the next move and the next step. There is no point in catapulting myself into a future which doesn’t yet exist. It is the present moments that build the future.
“Forever is a series of nows”
But as the rainbow show, things are temporary and change and so too will each present moment. As I try to slowly come into the moment, I am beginning to realise that is what life is…..a series of moments.
Hear me and see me….
I have been lucky enough to receive advice from truly amazing people and in turn have been privileged to be able to support those who need a listening ear. Being present is all we need to be. So… what does that look like? It can be as simple as a smile, a nod, maybe a cup of tea and a chat. To listen and be present is something that I have had to learn and practice… a lot! Listening can often be seen as an underrated skill. I have not yet fully mastered the art of being present but I strive to. Trust me. I still have my off days when instead of being present, I’m thinking about what I need to get in the shop on my way home from work!
Wonder…..
The rainbow is a free beautiful gift for us all to see among the mundane and stressful experiences of our day. I always feel a rainbow is nature’s gentle way of reminding us to be present. It exudes a sense of wonder and magic! It assures me that there is something bigger out there, a higher power that freely gives to and protects all.
I noticed how the people I was parked alongside were looking down or straight on and wondered did they even notice the rainbow? They saw clouds and drizzle and maybe that is all they saw. Sometimes I like to look a little higher to see the rainbows in life and to stop once more, take notice and appreciate the present wonder of this world and those around us.
Jigsee® …the present of puzzling
It has been widely recognised that puzzles and jigsaws are great for bringing us to the present moment. We are focused on finding the next piece and completely absorbed in the challenge! Jigsee® sets out to be engaging and tangible. However, what sets Jigsee® apart is the message. I want to add a little bit of inspiration to the experience! It is important for children and adults alike to be present to each other and what better way than dong a puzzle to connect. The bookmark included offers thoughts on the message if we are stuck for words! Jigsee® is a practical and simple step along this journey of being present.
