Picture this. You find a perfectly shaped rock for sitting along the side of a hill atop the ocean. It is almost as if the rock was shaped for you. The surface is smooth like a nicely formed rock cushion, if there was ever such a thing like a rock cushion. The rock beneath you feels warm as if someone was sitting there before you. You look up and see that you are directly in front of the sun. It was the sun that heated the seat for you. You notice the points of your bottom and back thighs on the heated rock.
Seated, you look out and see the expansive ocean. The waves are rolling in slowly. You focus your attention on one wave until it disappears into the shore. Then you focus on the next wave out at sea, following the wave as it rolls in.
Seated, you take in the sounds of the waves. The soft ocean roars. On occasion a seagull balks. Ocean sounds and birds comprise the lovely backdrop.
In these few minutes sitting near the ocean, you tune into the touch of the ocean (the rock seat), the sight of the ocean (watching the waves), and the sounds of the ocean (waves and seagulls). Your attention rests fully and completely with being at the ocean. This is mindfulness.
Challenge
Pick a nature spot near your home. It could be your backyard, local park or tree. Plan to spend five minutes there. Stand or sit. Pick one thing in nature to focus your mind, noticing the touch, sight and sound.
When your mind wanders off into other thoughts, you bring your attention back to watching the wave move slowly in the ocean. That is what it means to begin again.
Can you practice this? Perhaps you don’t have an ocean outside your door but can you find a place in nature to take in the touch, sight and sounds of nature. To fully be aware of nature?
Here is your chance! Watch this short video to practice a mindful moment by the ocean. Watch a wave, listen to the ocean, and feel what it is you are sitting on in your home. Tune into your senses.