Cate's Diary

I´m pretty sure our brains aren´t made for living in the moment long-term, but it´s still good to get back to the now regularly and feel anchored by it :)
 
cate said:
I think planning the next holiday is a better option. We still haven't decided on a destination!
Click to expand...
Do it. My parents haven't done a lot of cool travel, they were waiting for retirement, but my father is now fighting cancer that requires a lot of critically-timed medication and meals, so travel is nearly impossible now. They still manage to do fun stuff, don't get me wrong, but they're not leaving the U.S. anytime soon.
 
My parents are in Finnland to watch the spring bird migration; I love that they're finally taking time for themselves, to do things just because they enjoy them.
 
I would love to travel one day, after I get over my fear of flying. haha! You should definitely take a vacation. Sounds fun! :)
 
Hi Delsid, LaMa, LJ & Jen. You're right. Living in the moment is very difficult. I try though.
Travel is so good for you. LJ, that sucks about your Dad. I hope his treatment goes very well & they get to travel outside the US.
OK- here's am exercise, for anyone who wants to participate. Where in the world would you go, if you had the choice?
I'm tossing up between(in no particular order)-
Canada (incl. B.C. as I have a niece there) & Alaska.
Africa.
Sri Lanka.
UK
US (incl. NYC)
Italy again as I loved it so much!
Greece, but especially the Greek Islands.(G has been but I haven't)

Played golf a fair bit better yesterday. I could see the results of my practise the other day. I went out on my own on Sat & played 2 balls around 5 holes & changed my chipping & putting. I putted SO much better yesterday. I had a fun day actually with the women. B wasn't there again & it's much more relaxing without her. I may go & get fitted for new clubs this Sat as G & I will be in town all weekend. Spending a couple of grand on myself is not easy.
The forum is very active at the moment & it's great to see everyone showing support for one another. There's no pressure to do so, but it's great to see.
Cheers, Cate.
 
Glad you got some rounds in Cate! Hope you are feeling better!

And I agree, traveling is good for the mind and body. My personal top five on bucket list are Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Alaska and Australia. I actually surprised the hubby for our anniversary this year by booking an Alaskan Cruise for our anniversary next year. So soon to be one down and 4 to go!
 
I think it's super important to try to live in the moment, even if it's just for a few moments a day. It IS hard but it feels AMAAAAZING!

Ahhh, travel. My favourite topic :D Soo many places I want to go to. But my ABSOLUTE must go are New Zealand, Patagonia and Iceland.

Cate, Sri Lanka is awesome and so are the Greek Islands!!! I'd love to go to Canada too!
 
Hi tete & Delsid. Ahhh, travel. SOOO many places I want to go to as well. I think I'll just keep an eye out for deals & see what grabs me.
I really should get outside in the cold & do something. G has fired up the chainsaw & I am feeling so lazy! I might just do some squats & then see how I feel. Re-starting them today, after giving my legs a rest(except for 18 holes of golf yesterday.....
 
:) Have fun with the squats. I´m sure the rest has done you some good. I´m not much of a traveler since I hate planning, I´m a horrible creature of habit and I´m always a bit afraid I´ll allergy-kill myself. But hey, I got two of the three from my mom and she´s starting to overcome it so one day I might still see Madagascar :) Until then I must and will visit the Greek islands one of these years just to satisfy my teenage curiosity.
 
Nice list! We are going to Iceland once we've paid the house off.

It's getting so humid and hot here. The cold sounds inviting.
 
Ahhh, living in the moment. We're the only species to get hung up in the past and gravely concerned about the future. Just being is very difficult for us. There's an app for that, though. LOL! Isn't it funny how our lives have been broken down by apps now? But seriously... headspace is a great app for learning that art of mindfulness.

Looking back over my life, I think that I'd be battling pretty bad anxiety today if I hadn't learned and continued to practice mindfulness over the years.

I recently posted this to facebook:

"Here's something you might consider trying. Anxiety. We all feel it from time to time... some of us more than others. I know it's a regular part of my life. My mind tends to run faster than the moment. By that I mean it jumps ahead to the future... where I'm wondering how X is going to go or how I'm going to handle Y.

All the while, the now is in full swing. But since my mind can only focus on one thing intently... it's off spending the very energy that is life on things that I have zero control over. Since the future isn't here, yet, there's just not much I can do about it.

I talk a lot about "hitting pause." I spoke with an awesome client on the telephone last weekend and told her how I will literally visualize a giantfinger coming down from the sky and hitting an enormous pause button. I take some very deep, deliberate breaths and slow things down in my mind. And then I check in.

"I'm sitting here at my favorite desk tapping away at my keyboard. I can feel my body sinking into my chair as it supports me. I can here the girls playing with blocks in the living room. The rain is hitting the roof and the creek, just outside my window, is roaring high. I can feel my body calming as it naturally and rhythmically inhales and exhales. I can feel my belly and chest rising and falling as my body keeps me alive. I am alive. Right now. Here. In this moment. What do I want to do right now?"

It's never the same narrative. But it's a process of totally checking in with where I am in the moment... taking note of what I smell, feel, see, and hear.

Might seem pretty damn silly. But once you dive in and start practicing... you'll find that the slippery grip you're trying to squeeze on the future slips away and you fall into the moment. And it's only in the moment where you find the space to actually be the person you're striving to be - free from anxiety and fully intentional.

It's worth practicing... don't you think?"

Sorry to hijack your journal, but love the topic of presentness.

And travel. What's that? :(
 
Oooh, I've just download the app, it looks great! Definitely going to try it.

I've been using Sam Harris' guided meditation on YouTube, which is very similar and also only 10 min. Good for trying to tame the monkey mind ;) trying being the key word.

Travel doesn't need to be BIG, Steve :) Get OUT THERE next time you've got some time.
 
You should go to Greece!! I've always wanted to go there. An Alaskan cruise is also something I've always wanted to do. I love your list, Cate! :)
 
LaMa- Madagascar- that would be fascinating, as would the Galapagos Islands.
Quercus- Iceland? Too cold for me I reckon. I'm not mad keen on Alaska, for the same reason, but am considering only in conjunction with Canada. Everywhere is such a long way away from Australia!
Steve- Thanks for that post. I will download that app today. I am able to snap myself out of thinking about past mistakes really quickly, but I know I need to stop worrying about the future. I will practise mindfulness more often. That sounds like a great exercise. I am going to try picturing that giant finger coming down from the sky, hitting the pause button. It's a great idea! Re: travel- you must, you really must.
Delsid- Travel is wonderful, isn't it?
Jen- I think you're right about Greece. I get dreamy when I look at photos of the Greek Islands!

What a busy forum! I had to go into town & ran out of time to type in my diary. I just got back & there's about 10 diaries been added to. :eek: I'll have a quick look now(again).
 
:D I've got the same "problem". I guess the improving weather on our side of the globe is reminding us all that, before long, layers of clothing are going to fall.
 
I'll type in my diary first this morning as I have to leave early. G is competing in the State 8-Ball Team try-outs & this the 1st weekend of 3. I will be home late tonight & in there all day tomorrow too. I have had really good readings from my last blood test which I'll share on Monday. I think the only thing I can put them down to is doing 5:2. Very happy about it & now have my motivation to continue with it.
Better have a quick look around. More newbies I see. Will look there 1st.
Much love Cate.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top