Happiness doesn't wait. Wa(l)king up to the small miracles that bring joy.

Gratitude Blog

Sometimes it is hard to put in words what it is that makes us grateful. What are the small and big moments in our every day that bring about a sense of feeling thankful for having what we have, for living a life mostly free of any disturbances?

Since the beginning of the summer, which is hard to define when you are living in Ireland, I have been offering once a week a walking meditation.

We meet at one of the many beautiful beaches with hill walks on either side of it. Incredible views over the whole area come into view once getting above sea level.

While doing walking meditation we try to keep the attention in the feet and with every step that we take noticing where it is we are stepping.

Half way up the hill, we usually stop and stand. Just feeling and noticing what happens in the body but also with all the senses around us. What can we hear, see, smell, and touch? Noticing the inner awareness of the feet and body and the outer awareness that we experience through all our senses.

Mindful walking is an invitation to be present with everything the way it is right now in this moment, without needing or wanting it to be different.

This is how it is right now and that’s ok!

Being fully present to what we are experiencing can be a challenge as our mind has the tendency to keep us busy with many, many thoughts, problems, memories, planning etc.…

This is just what the mind does! We don’t need to follow. We can be here noticing the wind on our face, the heat of the sun, or the gentle raindrops, the moving of the grass, the sound of the waves, the colour nuances of the sky and the shape of the hills.

Arriving at the top gives an amazing view across the Atlantic and parts of the peninsula.

Taking a deep breath in and out, relaxing the body. Staying connected to the inner awareness whatever sensations are in the body/breath and the outer awareness of the senses. Noticing a sense of belonging to this moment, to the wind, the sky to everything there is.

We are not separated from nature, when we walk mindfully it is possible to connect to a deeper sense of belonging and at the same time stepping more softly onto the earth.

As the wonderful Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh said:

“Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.”

Slowing things down creates a way of reconnecting with ourselves and the space around us. Becoming aware of our direct experience at this moment in time.

After walking down I experience a deep sense of gratitude for being able to sense a deep connection outside of myself.

A sense of belonging that is hard to be felt when the mind is busy and life feels overwhelming.

One step at the time; from one moment to the next.

Thank you!