Everyday Mindfulness

I was watching the repeat of the 60 Minutes interview with Jon Kabat Zinn last night and he said something that was a "light bulb moment" for me. He was talking about how to practice mindfulness in everyday life, and he said something along the lines of "if you are taking a shower, be in the shower. Don't let other people in the shower with you. Don't let it get crowded."

Well, despite California's water drought, I take showers that are too long because I let everything in there with me. I think about my plans for the day, the work I'm doing, the battles I have to fight in my work, the struggles of daily life, etc. My shower does get "crowded" with people and thoughts. I am clearly not mindful. I do set a timer to keep myself moving along and get out of the shower within a reasonable time--I have to or I'd be there for hours.

So this morning I practiced mindfulness in the shower. It still got pretty crowded in there with a work adversary, an imaginary "expert" on diet and exercise, my husband and kids, etc. (LOL!!!). I had to keep shooing people and thoughts out of the shower. But it's going to be part of my daily practice from now on. Some day I will shower in peace!

I like that, the thought of shooing people and thoughts out, I shall add that to my armoury.

Good luck with the showering and I hope they become peaceful soon.

K

Shower mindfulness is one of my favourite practices.

This is how it starts. You begin to realise how much of your life you are not even there, and your practice begins to expand out into your life. Until ultimately, life becomes the meditation.

True as turnips that, Gareth.
As Brad Warner says (in his book Hardcore Zen), "It’s as if we’re afraid to really commit to this moment because a better one might come along later."
JW