Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Little Moments

Sometimes we need little reminders of what is good in our lives. The everyday stress of living and the barrage of negative images we receive every day can take a toll on our minds if we let them.

One of the tricks to doing this is to pause and fully take in the little snapshots in life that make everything so worthwhile. This can be anything. A beautiful sunset. A colorful blossom. The calm of a mountain lake. An image of a playful child.



The snapshots I am speaking of are not those taken with a camera. (I cheated here to illustrate the point) Think of them as images that become memories in the deepest part of our hearts. They are impressions we can draw on when the dark clouds of despair begin to creep in around us.

The only tools we need are our eyes and the present moment. There is wonder all around us that will take our breath away if we just sit still long enough to let it happen.

Next time you find yourself reaching for the camera, worrying about the focus and framing to capture that perfect picture, don't. Breath in deeply and let the image burn into your mind making it available whenever you need it.

12 comments:

Teresa said...

Excellent! I do this :) It's pictures of my dog grinning, and my husband smiling, my neighbors waving, etc.

Good things to remember...

joeshico said...

Even at work My thoughts are always about the events I want to always remember. I have found that if one dwells on the disappointments and hardships of life, your day is not fulfilled. If you dwell on the joyous events, you sleep in peace.

Anonymous said...

Great idea! I've been treasuring these snapshots since my son was small, and now that he's grown, I have wonderful memories of the small moments. It also helps to keep a journal if you can. You'll enjoy leafing through it one day.

Thanks for leaving a comment on "Awake is Good," and for reading the interview. Nice to meet you!

hazelmarie elliott said...

Roger, I absolutely loved this post. I can truly connect with what you are saying...those little 'snapshots of the heart' are what make life a priceless treasure...

Thank you for sharing this,
Mattie

Dixie@dcrelief said...

Hi Roger, I shall add this post to my collection of 'good images'. I love the positive feeling it gives me. Thank you. In peace, Dixie

klahanie said...

Hi Roger,
In today's hectic world, it seems to me that a lot of people are 'too busy' to find the time to reflect and absorb those special moments in their lives. It is good to savour the simple wonders that the world has to offer.
Heart-warming 'snapshots' that are emblazoned in my soul, help keep me positive in the now and let me embrace a more positive future for us all.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Roger.
I send you peaceful wishes, Gary.

timethief said...

Amazing! I do not own a camera and you have just described what I do daily. I have a collection tucked away in my memory and a I draw those images out and examine them when I need to. Yesterday while I watched a doe and her twin fawns I made a mental snapshot and added it to my mental gallery.

Tess The Bold Life said...

I do this all the time when my first granddaughter was born she was so beautiful I have the image of her little face burned in my mind and heart forever.

I love photos too.

Robin Easton said...

Oh this is such an intimate sharing. By intimate I mean "stilled" peaceful and aware of the single moment...as you say, the little moments.

I so love this as it is what gets me through my days. But it is more than that. It has become a living meditation for me. When I stay completely in the moment, the simple moment of right now, the breeze through my window, the sunrise I stand in my back yard and watch each dawn, the sound of laughter from the child next door and so forth, I find that time slows way down until there is time within time. The world can go swirling past me if it needs, but I can remain so still I am moved to tears by they beauty I live in.

This is something that came naturally when I lived every day in the wild for years, but it is something I am really focusing on lately, the last few months. It really makes a difference in my life.

It does my heart good to know there is a kindred soul out there doing the same thing and encouraging others to be soak in the little moments. Life is made up of millions of little moments.

Thank you so much, Roger.
Robin

The Buddhist Conservative said...

@Teresa, joeshico,Cindy, Hazelmarie,Dixie,Gary,Timethief, Tess and Robin,

Thank you all for the wonderful comments. The thought came to me a few weeks ago as I was taking a few pictures of my granddaughter,(pictured). Sometimes I spend so much time framing a picture that I think I lose the impact of what I am photographing.

Namaste,
Roger

Ryhen said...

This is really wonderful. In neuro linguistic programming, it is said that people have all the resources they need to cure themselves of any psychological or physiological disorders. All the images that have been imprinted on our minds since childhood have always been there to provide us with solutions. In yoga, on the other hand, it is believed that steadfast concentration upon an a single object will enable you to reach higher levels of consciousness. I'm sure you know what it's called because you just made a wonderful way of making it easier for people to understand through this article. Keep on posting. =)

Nothing Profound said...

Just being there and observing these wonderful moments is enough. Even if the image and the memory fade and are forgotten forever..