Mindfulness Daily Check-In May 29, 2018
Happy Teachable Tuesday everyone! 
How is everyone doing today? 
Sometimes, life causes us to be serious, negative, and unhappy most of the time due to numerous stressors in our personal lives, such as bills, work, household responsibilities, and more. As a result, we often are so worked up and overwhelmed that we forget to enjoy ourselves and have fun. Thus, mindfulness does not only help us relax and become centered, but it also allows us to have fun as well! There are many ways in which individuals of all ages can participate in mindfulness as well as have fun!
Mindful Ways to Have Fun:
Mindful Jar: Fill a jar with water and add a spoonful of glitter. Now shake the jar in order to make the glitter swirl, and think of how your mind is like the jar. It can be chaotic at times to the point where you cannot see clearly, but when everything settles, then you can see clearly. Focusing on the glitter in the jar is extremely calming, beautiful even, and a lesson to take in.
Safari: Go on a safari outside, and put your attention towards noticing as many bugs, birds, and animals. Notice anything that basically walks, crawls, swims, flies, slithers, and more. Use all of your senses in order to find them, especially the small ones. What senses did you use to find each animal or bug on your safari? Were you surprised to find that you use more and/or less senses to find each individual animal or bug?
Mindful Seeing: Find a window and look out to everything that there is to see. Do not label or categorize anything that you see, but instead put your attention towards noticing colors, patterns, and textures. Look out the window with a perspective of someone unfamiliar with these sights, and pay attention to the movement of grass and leaves in the breeze as well as the different shapes that you see. Make sure you are observant and aware, and avoid being critical and fixated. If you become distracted, simply pull yourself away from any distracting thoughts by bringing your attention back to a color or shape. How did this make you feel afterwards?
Observe a Leaf for 5 Minutes: Pick up a leaf, hold it in your hand, and simply give the leaf your full attention for 5 minutes. Notice the colors, shape, texture, and patterns of the leaf. This activity will bring you and your thoughts into the present with your current experience. How do you feel during and after this activity?
I would love to hear what everyone else thinks!
What is a fun mindful activity that you do every day?
What do you think of these fun ways to be mindful?
Is there anything that you would like to add or suggest?
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Awesome! Definitely going to try some of them :)
A mindfulness exercise I try to do every day is focusing on my body during my yoga routine. I try to notice exactly which muscles are stretching in each movement, and if they hurt or feel uncomfortable I try to relax them by breathing.
@Artisaweapon Hi Art! I certainly hope that you enjoy them! Also, that is so amazing! I do that as well as it helps relieve muscle tension and stretch even more. Mindfulness during yoga and stretching is amazing! Thank you for sharing and I hope you have a wonderful and mindful day! 
What is a fun mindful activity that you do every day? I like to be outdoors and look at the cloud formations and the the moving of tree leaves when windy. Very relaxing.
What do you think of these fun ways to be mindful? Very good tips.
There anything that you would like to add or suggest? Not at this time.
@sail46 Hi Sail! Cloud watching and tree watching is so relaxing and pleasant! Thank you so much for sharing, and I hope you have a wonderful and mindful day!
@SaimaK
Hi, I have had a lovely sunny long weekend and your post made me smile, I love these little mindful exercises,
I love looking at leaves in detail, I do it as well with my crystals, it's a way to get to know them and to meditate with them.
Have a wonderful day everyone!
@MistyMagic Hi Misty! I am so glad to hear that you had a lovely, sunny long weekend, and I am happy that my post made you smile and that you loved the exercises that I shared! Looking at leaves as well as crystals is so amazing. They really are so stunning and I appreciate their intricate beauty immensely. It is so relaxing and pleasant! Thank you for sharing, and I hope you have a wonderful and mindful day!
@SaimaK I love these ideas. I had an experience where I was watching the kitchen counter. And I saw where water had spilled but I did not label it as spilled water and go and clean it up.
Instead I notice how the water pooled in an irregular pattern and reflected the light from outside. All of a sudden it was a work of art that went beyond description. It was like seeing it without the labels and rules of what I had to do because water spilled. I really felt I saw it.
Oh I did clean it up but that was after the awake moment. Do others have these moments?
@soulsings Hi Soul! Thank you so much! I am so glad that you viewed the the pool of water as art rather than spilled water. It is nice to view things without any pre-judgment or labels, and it truly is enlightening in the end. I definitely have these moments often as well, and I absolutely am happy to hear that you have them as well! Thank you for sharing, and I hope you have a wonderful and mindful day!
@SaimaK you too have a great day.
@soulsings Thank you, Soul!
@soulsings
yes I do,
It's funny whern I was at school many moons ago I would be called a day dreamer but really I have found a fascinating pattern in the wooden desk or in the air or outside the window and I was mindful even back then lol!
@MistyMagic Misty, me too! Everyone thought I was off, but I just thought it was so pleasant and awe-inspiring, lol.
What is a fun mindful activity that you do every day?
I like to really notice my food when I'm eating - the flavor, the texture, just how good it feels to be eating. I especially like to do this with chocolate. :)
What do you think of these fun ways to be mindful?
I really like them! I hadn't thought of just looking at a leaf to take it all in. I will need to try that the next time I happen upon one! The mindful seeing exercise is one I do every now and again without realizing it, but I would like to do it more!
Is there anything that you would like to add or suggest?
One thing I do is really focus on petting my cats when I snuggle with them. I like to focus on how their fur feels, how they're reacting, feeling their purrs... it's just really nice. ^_^
@Raindrops00 Hi Rain! Being mindful of eating is amazing and makes the food even more fulfilling and savory! I am really glad that you liked these fun mindful ideas! Oooh, that is amazing to enjoy! I am glad you are able to be mindful and relaxed when snuggling with your cats! Thank you for sharing, and I hope you have a wonderful and mindful day!
@SaimaK Thank you! You're a joy to have around! ^_^
@Raindrops00 Awwwww, thank you so much, Rain! You're a joy to have around as well, and I love reading your posts on check-ins!
@SaimaK Ahhh! I'm exploding with glee over here! <3
@Raindrops00 Hehe, yay!!!
@SaimaK
Hi SaimaK, great ideas for being mindful and not using labels. Tomorrow morning i will try to look 5 min. at a leaf, observing each little section of it, noticing the colour or colours and its shape and texture.
What is a fun mindful activity that you do every day? when sitting outside for a short while in the morning I observe the flowers, birds passing by, lizzards trying to get a piece of fruit. This helps to stay in the present moment.
What do you think of these fun ways to be mindful? I appreciate your work and as mentioned before I will check the leaf.
Is there anything that you would like to add or suggest? when waking up in the morning i do a little body scan now, which i find very helpful (heard about that in mindfulness session)
@amiablePeace77 Hi Peace! Thank you! I truly hope that it is enjoyable for you! That is an amazing way to be mindful everyday as it always enjoyable to just take in the beauty around you. Body scans are immensely helpful, and so that is a great suggestion to add! Thank you for sharing, and I hope you have a wonderful and mindful day!
@SaimaK
Saima only word I say is WONDERFULYou are doing such a great job on starting off brand new and doing these awesome thoughtful "meaty" check ins for our wonderful community. Keep up the good work
What is a fun mindful activity that you do every day?
I love to do arts n crafts or plant. Those 2 things I really enjoy on my time free. It brings all my attention to what I am doing
What do you think of these fun ways to be mindful?
I made a glitter jug long time ago. It is by my bed. When I am having "a moment" lol I grab it shake it so hard and throw my worry thoughts in there. Also watching the glitter settle also is a good way to relax and calm
Is there anything that you would like to add or suggest?
The only thing I suggest is continue doing whatever it is that makes you feel good. Make that a routine in ur day or week.
@RumpleSteeleSkin Hi Rumple! Thank you so much! Hehe, I hope I continue to do a great job and hope to even improve and do better. These check-ins also help me learn more as well! Thank you again for helping me! I love arts and crafts as well! They are so enjoyable! I definitely need to make a glitter jar, or a ton, for my next project and keep it next to my bed as well! And very well said! Doing what you makes your feel good and happy in and out is the best way to be mindful. Take care Rumple, and I hope you have a wonderful and mindful day!