The power of mindfulness

This morning, braving the strong north-west winds, I headed to the lake for my daily walk. The sun was gloriously warm on my face, as I sat on a log to admire the view. At that point, all I had in front of me was the vastness of Lake Ontario. It was so peaceful that I decided to close my eyes and meditate. After a few minutes, I realized that, even though my intent was to clear my mind, I was thinking of my afternoon projects and everything I needed to accomplish before the weekend. 

​I was no longer fully present to the experience of sitting on a log, by the lake. I took a deep breath in, and reminded myself of the benefits of simply bearing witness to my surroundings. My eyes still closed, I heard the happy chirping of birds, the gentle sound of the waves crashing on the frozen shore, and a train in the far distance.That ephemeral moment of mindfulness was simply rejuvenating. At that moment, I decided to open my eyes, and two magnificent swans were right in front of me! Their silent, yet graceful presence was such a gift and I felt instant joy and gratitude. Mindfulness is a powerful thing. This morning, it reminded me that there is beauty everywhere. We simply need to take the time to notice it!