This week I’ve been off work / on staycation and yesterday we took Baby Violet to the beach for the first time. She walked in the sand, looked disapprovingly at the sea and wasn’t sure what she felt about the waves splashing around her feet, but it was a really special moment.
Appreciating Moments in Time
Because of the way my mind works, one challenge I have is recognising and appreciating meaningful moments in a day. Suffice to say I had challenges in my early life developing an emotional landscape, and this makes it hard for me to appreciate situations, especially as they happen.
Also, with life in general, and looking after babies in particular, it’s very easy to focus overtly on the tasks in hand. Babies need changing, feeding, entertaining, getting outside, meeting friends and so on. It’s very operational.
Additionally I used to think life was flying by, out of control, careening towards god knows what. Now I don’t feel like that anymore, maybe because my life is currently more balanced.
So the challenge always is to find ways to slow down and fully enjoy those simple special moments, like being at the beach or the park.
Mornings & Yoga
I know some people describe themselves as morning people or evening people but basically I’m happy with any part of the day really. However mornings are when I do yoga, feel creative, and before I feel the need to get out the door and into nature of some kind, which happens most days.
I seem to have fallen into looking after Baby Violet first thing – Sacha does more of the night shift, so to speak. This is also mainly because of my fatigue issue – by 8pm I’ve had it and can’t stay awake, but Sacha is a natural sleep avoider & late nighter.
So I’m often awake from about 5 or 6 and we have a kind of established routine now:
1: Violet awakes and Sacha starts feeding her.
2: I get up, do some baby chores, put Violet’s large play mat down and then put my yoga mat on top.
3: Once her initial feeding is over I take Violet into the front room and we both basically roll, stretch and play around on the floor for a bit. I put one of my Music for Yoga & Mornings playlists on (see later).
This playlist and my yoga are crucial – a special way to start and even appreciate the day that’s heading my way. I’ve found I can do a short yoga session next to Violet on the floor, incorporating her into the routine, taking tips from this:
Learns
So I’m actively trying to practice mindfulness and enjoy moments. I do this by:
1: Using breathing techniques I learn’t from Yoga – in through the nose into the lower stomach, out through the mouth. Focus on following the flow of the breath.
2: Use music and sound to start my day and also bring me back to the present / take a break throughout the day.
3: Think of all the unwanted thoughts that wash around my brain like mental spam. Observe them without judging and let them pass. Like leaves floating down a river. Calm them with breathing exercises. Visualise the chatter as things floating around the room and feel empowered to choose the thought I want and disregard other more negative ones.
4: Take ‘mental screenshots’ of moments and try to embed them in my memory, sort of like taking an emotional as well as visual photograph. I sometimes write them down in a journal.
5: Use Yoga to unite body and mind, and also to learn a degree of control over it, as explained in this excellent book I’m reading:
What works for you?
In such a social media obsessed world where we feel like we never have enough time to take it all in, I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in being emotional averse to appreciating moments, so I would love to hear if you have any learns or techniques you use to slow down time, calm your brain and enjoy life. Please let me know…
In the meantime, feel free to enjoy the music below – it helps start my day the right way. I could easily write another article about what each of these songs and artists mean to me. Maybe I will. This playlist has developed over time and I’ve put a lot of thought and practice into it, and next time perhaps I’ll share some more music that helps me.
Take care & be good to yourself.
Namaste xx
Tim Boat's Backyard & Beyond 
