I see this play out in my romantic relationship all the time. Sometimes I might feel frustrated with my boyfriend, when really I'm frustrated with myself for not taking care of my own needs. If I didn't acknowledge this, I could easily dwell in pain and anger toward him when really I hold the key to making the change.
There are of course many more lessons I've learned from individual painful experiences. A lot of it's in my book! J
The Tiny Buddha blog and book focus a lot on mindfulness and the importance of being present. What are some of the ways you practice mindfulness in your daily life?
In addition to practicing yoga, I aim to create mindfulness in my everyday activities—like doing dishes or folding laundry—by fully focusing on the tactile experience of them. As a writer who's frequently caught up in my head, I appreciate opportunities to focus solely on what I'm doing with my body.
I also remind myself often, "This moment will never come again." I may be watching a movie with someone I see all the time, but there are no guarantees that exact set of circumstances will repeat itself in the future—or that I'll even see that person I love at some point down the line.
It's the kind of thing we take for granted—that tomorrow will come, and people won't go anywhere. Many times, it's true, but not always. Realizing this reminds me to appreciate and enjoy what's in front of me, because like everything in life, it's impermanent.
What do you have planned for Tiny Buddha in the future?
I'm not really sure! I know I'm going to keep publishing stories from people who want to share through Tiny Buddha. And I'm likely going to write another book. Beyond that, I'm taking it one day at a time and following my instincts as opportunities arise.
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