Mindfulness On My Mind

There seems to be a lot of momentum behind the concept of mindfulness these days.  Is it a trend? I hope not, because I'm totally loving it.  In my life, I call it living "one day at a time" and sometimes that translates into one moment at a time.  It applies to so many areas of life, but the whole concept is wrapped up in the idea of experiencing the here and now...being present.  I want to be present.  I want to be in my life, experiencing every moment, not living as a bystander watching my life happen.

 I want to watch the sun rise and set...the light move across the things around me.

I want to notice beauty in nature.

I want to enjoy the smile of people I love...and of strangers. (And I want to be silly.)

I want to taste and experience the food that I eat.

I want my life to be a  joyful experience.  I want to notice it now, not half remember it later.  I want my mind to be where my feet are, where my taste-buds are, where my heart is.  I get to do all of this, anytime I choose.  By incorporating mindfulness into every aspect of my life, I am connected to myself and others.  In what areas of your life do you (or could you) practice mindfulness?

Road Food: "Convenience" Foods

I'm on the road again and this trip will be a little longer than usual at 6 days.  That's a lot of potential for naughty eating!  The typical hotel room I where I stay isn't an efficiency and there's no kitchen, but I can ask for a fridge if there's not already a small one in the room.  Convenience foods become a more integral part of my eating plan.  The phrase convenience food has typically been rather negatively applied when it comes to nutrition, but it doesn't have to be.  After all, what's more convenient than a banana?  It comes in its own biodegradable packaging, needs no refrigeration and packs away into any travel bag or purse.  When I got settled in my hotel, I made some inquiries about nearby markets and discovered a Walgreens less than 1/2 a mile away, so I made the walk over and stocked up.  Here's a list of my healthy "convenience" foods:

 Fruit, including bananas, apples and grapefruit, salad, cereal, granola bars, peanuts, cheese sticks, yogurt, peanut butter, whole grain wraps, hummus with pretzels, tuna and sardines, juice, milk and bottled water. 

With these nutritious options, there are no excuses.  I can prepare breakfast, lunch and  snacks every day, avoiding the trap of unhealthy convenience foods while I'm on the road.  By the way, some people turn up their nose at sardines, but if you like tuna, you will like sardines! They are an easy, portable source of nutrition and are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids.