The art of mindfulness can seem overwhelming, daunting or maybe even scary! Are you chicken to try? How do you become consciously aware, present in the moment and appreciate the tiny things in life? Start a daily routine to practice and before you know it, you’ll be reaping many rewards! Oh routines… how I loathe you. But chickens are helping me embrace you! I’ve written before about how important healthy routines are to keep you on track for your health. When used responsibly, routines can simplify life, keep you grounded in the present and help establish healthy habits. When relied upon too much, routines can get you stuck in a rut that is hard to dig your way out of. That’s where my fear of routines comes in. It may seem odd, but chickens are just the creatures that have helped me on my journey in mindfulness so I stay grounded in healthy routine. They have also brought quite a bit of delight to what most people would call work.
Every evening, after the terrific trio is in bed, I take my evening stroll out to the chicken coop to check on my feathery, egg laying ladies and lock them in for the night. This one small “chore” has brought much gratitude and joy in my day. It’s a time to practice mindfulness and enjoy the Back 4, our “homestead” of sorts. I walk toward the sunset and enjoy Mother Nature’s artwork of beautiful sky colors, listen to the choir of summer insects, nearby sandhill cranes, and often a turkey or two crashing through pines to roost for the evening. There is a lot of noise, but it is the most quiet, most calm part of my day. I am comforted by the usual stillness of the air and the sounds of nature as night moves in. It is a few minutes of my day when I can enjoy my own thoughts without the usual entourage of my kids, husband, co-workers, or fellow shoppers in line at the grocery store.
It would be so easy to classify this as a chore and add in the negative emotions that can accomp
any the never ending to-do list. I have consciously chosen NOT to allow that to happen! Having chickens was a long time goal of mine, for important reason. Ask my husband how long I’ve been talking about chickens and he’ll probably roll his eyes… to me, chickens represent self-sufficiency – at least to some degree. Knowing that I can just bop out to the coop and scoop up some eggs and feed my family is very satisfying. Knowing that my chickens do not know a cage and have the chance to see sunlight and run and fly as they please and eat bugs that would try to bite me and just generally enjoy the good chicken life makes me happy.
When we choose mindfulness, it can create happiness, gratitude, feelings of calm and content in our lives. It helps our bodies shift into the parasympathetic side of the nervous system which allows us to de-stress and relax. A small act of mindfulness like I have with my chickens every evening can have a major impact on your health and relationships. As much as possible, I try to focus on being mindful and “being with” my children at least a few times each day. It’s quite amazing when you focus for just a few moments, rather than just being there physically.
So, even if you are chicken to try practicing mindfulness, I challenge you to incorporate just a few minutes a day to start. No, you don’t need chickens to do it! Just choose one thing you already do every day and make a point to really pay attention and focus on that one activity for 5 minutes each day. It will seem like a much longer time when you first start, but it will get easier and before you know it those 5 minutes will feel like barely 5 seconds had passed. How about practicing mindfulness while brushing your teeth -or perhaps during a bedtime routine with a child, partner or pet? Long driveway? Practice mindfulness while walking out to pick up the mail! Maybe you can just spend a few minutes outdoors and sit quietly while noticing the noises of nature. Start with something easy that you think you will enjoy so it is easy to stick with it. I do not recommend going out and buying chickens tonight for your mindfulness practice. But chickens are quite entertaining, and if you plan ahead…maybe a flock is in your future!
Mindfulness can transform your attitude and be very helpful in your WILDLY GROUNDED revolution! Do you practice mindfulness now? How did you get started? What would you like to learn more about in starting your mindfulness practice?