Clarity in Everyday Life
What’s up, friends? I am finally getting back to you after attending my first event representing the Kind Rebirths brand. It was an eye-opening experience attending the First Annual Jazzteenth (a play on Juneteenth) Festival at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Boardwalk. Honestly, this was the first time meeting, face-to-face, people I hope to inspire. I met a lot of great people, and we discussed the brand and relevance of mindfulness and awareness in our everyday lives.
I don’t know if I was out of place bringing the brand to a music festival because I know when people hear me spit out words like mindfulness, awareness, and reflection, they often think of things that are unrelated to everyday life. I imagine they think of retreats in the mountains, meditating sitting on cushions in a flower garden, or taking lengthy periods of silence to sit and enjoy the environment. I don’t dismiss those sorts of opportunities because they can definitely be food for the soul, but I wouldn’t be a good steward of this content if I didn’t make sure people understand the importance of awareness right in the middle of our ordinary lives.
Moments of awareness occur everywhere. It can happen while we are sitting in traffic heading to work. It can happen while having difficult conversations with friends, loved ones, or even strangers. We can be in the grocery store or while we are sitting at our desks responding to an email. It occurs when we are happy, when we are sad, when we are disappointed or relieved. It happens when we are excited, anxious, and uncertain.
One of the biggest challenges we face is that everyday life moves at an incredibly fast pace. Because we have become so accustomed to reacting rather than responding, we rush from one responsibility right to the next. We move from one thought immediately to another. Distractions demand our attention and then the next distraction distracts us from the first distraction. It’s unending. Over time, we switch on that autopilot button to deal with it. No doubt, we continue functioning at a high level in most cases because we have grown used to it, but what is lost is that touch we had on what’s happening below the surface. This is where clarity stands up.
In the Kind Rebirths space, we don’t state the clarity is about having all the answers. Because we don’t. And furthermore, it’s not about developing the unblemished ability to make decisions and it is not about reaching some permanent state of peace. Because clarity is much simpler than that, we begin by recognizing what is happening right now within us in those present moments. It’s not just about recognizing a feeling before we react, it’s a willingness to observe our thoughts without judging them or immediately believing it. It is a sharp tool that can be used to notice what we are carrying into a situation as we move forward.
Benefits like this, while priceless, are not dramatic. They are not often granted quickly. They are subtle and ask us to become more patient and more communicative. We are less controlled by each passing moment and find a deeper connection to what is actually taking place.
So, when I venture to the next festival, I hope I am able to better convey the opportunities that are hidden in our everyday lives. And not every moment needs a major transformation. Sometimes we simply need a little more awareness, honesty, compassion, and space. Because when clarity does arrive, that rebirth will make other ordinary experiences hit differently.
Stay mindful…
Rebirth.
