Comments on: Taking the Pause

By: jess

jess — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:14:53 +0000

hi lolly! i was just stopping by to see how you were progressing with yoga teacher training (belated congratulations on graduating, btw!) and stumbled on this post. have you ever heard of Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who wrote on mindfulness? washing dishes was a big thing for him:

“If while we are washing dishes, we think only of the cup of tea that awaits us, thus hurrying to get the dishes out of the way as they were a nuisance, then we are not ‘washing the dishes to wash to wash the dishes.’ What’s more we are not alive during the time we are washing the dishes….If we can’t washes the dishes, chances are we won’t be able to drink our tea either.” Thich Nhat Hanh (1976). The Miracle of Mindfulness (trans: Moby Ho). Boston: Beacon Press.

i don’t actually know much about Buddhism or even meditation, but i think about this part of Thich Nhat Hanh often (esp. when washing the mandoline!)

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:06:01 +0000

Even though they don’t feature turning leaves, your pictures have the essence of fall. Now that the nights are cooler and the humidity has gone down, it’s really starting to feel like fall. I’m looking forward to seeing all of your beautiful pictures as the season changes!

By: Rphilbeck

Rphilbeck — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:39:16 +0000

Thanks for the wonderful pictures and I enjoyed reading about enjoying the little things around you. That is true we really take them for granted in our hectic world. I try to take time to “smell the roses” but everyone needs to do that to really enjoy life. Thanks so much and loved it all. Rowena

By: MaryjoO

MaryjoO — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:28:29 +0000

the photos are breathtaking! I think “fall”/autumn is your favorite season? I love trees and found it hard to live in a “new city” once with baby trees that were being planted. I kept telling people in 15 years they would be SO grateful for all those trees!

Anyway, lovely post. We don’t have to make life as complicated as we do sometimes, and pausing is REALLY good for you!

By: maryeb

maryeb — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:26:44 +0000

Wow, these are such gorgeous photos I can almost get lost in them.
I’ve enjoyed reading about your teacher training. I completed a year long program several years ago and really enjoyed the experience. Your posts have brought back some sweet memories. Thanks

By: tina

tina — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:43:13 +0000

The whole concept of being mindful is one I embrace heartily. To me, it is evolving— at varying rates of course. Mindfulness while decidedly ‘inactive’ means something different at different levels. Maybe that didn’t make any sense at all! Great post, lovely photos.

By: Mandy

Mandy — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:21:51 +0000

Ahhhhh. That’s how I feel after reading this. Great post.

(I love doing the dishes!)

By: Phoe

Phoe — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:03:08 +0000

My hunter brain does mindfulness on an unconscious level (you know, constantly on the lookout for saber tooth cats and such) but once I start trying to be aware of it, I get twitchy. I suppose it’s just a habit I must cultivate. I look forward to seeing your research.

By: Joan

Joan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:38:35 +0000

Thank you for this lovely reminder to pause every once in a while. I love the mindfulness exercises my yoga teacher suggests every week. It has made me so grateful.

By: k

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:35:55 +0000

thank you for your thoughtful post. right now i’m making applesauce, and the simple act of peeling and chopping apples is a form of mindfulness for me, but so too is a solo bike ride on a forest trail. great pics – love the trees and bark.