Mindfulness
Mindfulness is now the new buzz word that is supposed to increase happiness and limit distress. Everyone seems to be doing it, reading about it, practicing it, learning about it, and even going on Mindfulness retreats.
From what I understand, Mindfulness allows you to free your mind of distracting thoughts, allowing yourself to be more present in the moment. It frees your mind to fully experience enjoyment and to fully experience moments of stress allowing your mind to focus and then let go of this sooner. It involves being fully mindful of your emotions without judgement. That is what I understand, anyway. Like I said, I do not really get it.
But, I think I did achieve this last weekend, in spite of myself.
I was running around doing errands when I realized I had not had my morning coffee. That was no problem because I keep a number of completed McDonald coffee cards in my car. However, the problem was the closest McDonalds to me was one that I only have had negative experiences. They seem to consistently get my order wrong, and the customer service is lacking. I can not stand that location, but it was closest and all I wanted was a free cup of coffee. I did not think too much could go wrong.
So, I got into the drive-thru line. Both lanes were very full. Ugh. This lousy cup of coffee was going to take a lot of my precious time. I caught myself. I was putting a lot of judgments already on a cup of coffee. I was already judging that it was going to be lousy and I was already making a judgment on my time, that it was precious. I was sure putting a lot of wasted energy out for a cup of coffee. None of this was going to get me through the drive-thru line quicker.
It finally was my turn (another judgment) and I indicated that I had a completed coffee card so I wanted a medium double double. I saw on the screen that the order taker had typed in large coffee and put $1.00 with my order. Of course, I said to myself with much judgment, this place can not get a simple cup of coffee right. I repeated again, with a tone of frustration, that I wanted a medium cup of coffee and it would be free since I had a completed coffee card. The screen never changed. The woman told me to please drive ahead. While I waited in line again, I searched my purse for change. None of this was my fault yet I was still going to have to pay for someone else incompetence. And now, I was stuck in this line getting a cup of coffee I probably was not even going to like. If I was going to have to pay for it anyway, I probably should have gotten an egg mcmuffin. When I got close to the front of the pay window, I noticed that the order taker was a woman older than 65 and possibly close to 75. Now, I felt a little sorry for this woman having to work beyond retirement and probably treated poorly by her supervisors who were probably more than half her age. Again, judgment. Is that all I do all day is judge.
When it was my turn, the woman told me to save my coffee card for a time when coffee was regular price in order to get maximum value out of it. She said coffee was on sale for $1. so she ordered me a large but she did not want to explain this through the drive-thru speaker so that others would have overheard. Wow. All this time I had been judging, this woman had gone above and beyond to give me a good experience. I handed her my loonie and she waved me off again. Since I had been expecting a free cup of coffee, I was going to get a free cup of coffee. Now, this was too much. I had hoped this did not mean that she was going to pay for my coffee. Not to worry, she said, she had my back. Once I received my coffee, she was going to void the sale. Again, wow. This complete stranger was extending herself for me. I can not believe I had been so judgmental.
So, I got my coffee and it was pure joy. It was the perfect temperature. Warming to my coddles but not too hot. It tasted like liquid silk going down smoothly. The perfect aroma. It even had a festive red top which made me happy. I fully enjoyed this cup of coffee just noticing every wonderful moment. Happily, my car already knew the way home so I was able to focus fully on this wonderful cup of joy. No judgments, just a simple but complete pleasure.
I think it could be said that I was fully and mindfully enjoying the moment.
From what I understand, Mindfulness allows you to free your mind of distracting thoughts, allowing yourself to be more present in the moment. It frees your mind to fully experience enjoyment and to fully experience moments of stress allowing your mind to focus and then let go of this sooner. It involves being fully mindful of your emotions without judgement. That is what I understand, anyway. Like I said, I do not really get it.
But, I think I did achieve this last weekend, in spite of myself.
I was running around doing errands when I realized I had not had my morning coffee. That was no problem because I keep a number of completed McDonald coffee cards in my car. However, the problem was the closest McDonalds to me was one that I only have had negative experiences. They seem to consistently get my order wrong, and the customer service is lacking. I can not stand that location, but it was closest and all I wanted was a free cup of coffee. I did not think too much could go wrong.
So, I got into the drive-thru line. Both lanes were very full. Ugh. This lousy cup of coffee was going to take a lot of my precious time. I caught myself. I was putting a lot of judgments already on a cup of coffee. I was already judging that it was going to be lousy and I was already making a judgment on my time, that it was precious. I was sure putting a lot of wasted energy out for a cup of coffee. None of this was going to get me through the drive-thru line quicker.
It finally was my turn (another judgment) and I indicated that I had a completed coffee card so I wanted a medium double double. I saw on the screen that the order taker had typed in large coffee and put $1.00 with my order. Of course, I said to myself with much judgment, this place can not get a simple cup of coffee right. I repeated again, with a tone of frustration, that I wanted a medium cup of coffee and it would be free since I had a completed coffee card. The screen never changed. The woman told me to please drive ahead. While I waited in line again, I searched my purse for change. None of this was my fault yet I was still going to have to pay for someone else incompetence. And now, I was stuck in this line getting a cup of coffee I probably was not even going to like. If I was going to have to pay for it anyway, I probably should have gotten an egg mcmuffin. When I got close to the front of the pay window, I noticed that the order taker was a woman older than 65 and possibly close to 75. Now, I felt a little sorry for this woman having to work beyond retirement and probably treated poorly by her supervisors who were probably more than half her age. Again, judgment. Is that all I do all day is judge.
When it was my turn, the woman told me to save my coffee card for a time when coffee was regular price in order to get maximum value out of it. She said coffee was on sale for $1. so she ordered me a large but she did not want to explain this through the drive-thru speaker so that others would have overheard. Wow. All this time I had been judging, this woman had gone above and beyond to give me a good experience. I handed her my loonie and she waved me off again. Since I had been expecting a free cup of coffee, I was going to get a free cup of coffee. Now, this was too much. I had hoped this did not mean that she was going to pay for my coffee. Not to worry, she said, she had my back. Once I received my coffee, she was going to void the sale. Again, wow. This complete stranger was extending herself for me. I can not believe I had been so judgmental.
So, I got my coffee and it was pure joy. It was the perfect temperature. Warming to my coddles but not too hot. It tasted like liquid silk going down smoothly. The perfect aroma. It even had a festive red top which made me happy. I fully enjoyed this cup of coffee just noticing every wonderful moment. Happily, my car already knew the way home so I was able to focus fully on this wonderful cup of joy. No judgments, just a simple but complete pleasure.
I think it could be said that I was fully and mindfully enjoying the moment.
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