Where Is Your Mind? For This Is Where You Will Find Your Heart

Live fully, stay young at heart.

“When we engage in what we are naturally suited to do, our work takes on the quality of play and it is play that stimulates creativity.”

~ Linda Naiman

Sometimes I have to stop everything when the phone rings. Do you ever feel irritated when somebody wants to talk when you are busy?

It can take effort to stop in the middle of something to take a call, especially if I’m in a creative state. It’s difficult shifting gears so quickly while still remaining fully present.

However, when I want to talk, everyone should listen. Isn’t this how we feel at times? Aren’t people more important than anything else in this world? Perhaps a shift in priorities is needed.

What if we really could freeze time like the above screenshot? I wouldn’t want to be anyplace else, but right at that moment.

Do those moments of distraction serve a purpose in our lives? Are they opportunities by the grace of God? I started to look at these exactly as God’s grace, divine interventions in time and space. They are a way to keep us on our toes.

How do you keep your mind young? I like to get inside my Grandson’s mind a lot. He is curious, funny, imaginative, adventurous; he loves to sing, dance, play instruments, run more than walk, he eats like a bird, and obviously, he loves to play on the phone as we talk. Oh, the joys of being a kid.

Kids are spontaneous and ideally present in the moment. Their minds are perfect. They are open to learning, and they are honestly our teachers. We can learn a lot from them.

How can we learn from a kid? Just observe their behaviors and join in. On your marks, get set, go!

Being fully present

It’s important to quiet those to-do lists in your mind to fully become present. Kids aren’t worried about the dishes, laundry, shopping, cooking, or working.

Being fully present is soaking in your current situation. It would help if you fully emerged in the present moment. It’s an opportunity to embrace life fully.

Worry and anxiety get pushed to the back burner in your mind. The concerns and fears will still be there, but they will be on low, while you still enjoy the pleasures of life.

What if you started living fully present? Eventually, wouldn’t your worries and anxieties get pushed out? They can only exist if you allow them room in your mind.

Kids do not have the space in their minds to worry when they fully emerge into a playful mindset.

Being spontaneous

Being a present person doesn’t mean you never make plans or think about the past. It just means that you try to be fully present while dropping in for the fantastic experiences along your life path. Here are some practical ways.

• Learning to seize opportunities to try new things is a start.
• Reducing some time wasters is a vital goal to allow more time to be spontaneous.
• Plus, getting things done when you have the time instead of waiting with the I’ll do it tomorrow attitude opens the door when opportunities arise. When you complete your to-do list, you are less likely to say no.

Being spontaneous doesn’t mean you can’t plan. Perhaps you might want to start by preparing a few new activities for your days. Starting small is best, but who knows it could lead you to jump out of a plane.

Possibly, you might need to start by getting off your phone and doing something fun. Create a bucket list. Try telling my grandson this; he loves playing and talking on the phone together.

Living fully

What does it mean to live fully? Living fully might take some practice. Not everyone is born with the same happiness levels.

Learning to live to the fullest is an important skill in making the most of every day.

It’s never too late to take a good look at your life. You really must do what makes you happy.

Kids are so excited to see their family and friends. They are so good at waving and saying hello, even to strangers.

Kids have an open mind to learning. Having an open mind is important to live fully. Don’t assume you know everything. This is just impossible and it causes a judgmental attitude.

Staying young

Continue to use your brain as you age. Doing puzzles like a kid or playing games is great. Research shows mental stimulation can lead to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease or the delay of its onset.

• Exercising more is a lesson we could learn from a toddler. They never stop.
• Eating less is another great lesson from kids. We don’t need as much as we think. This is a great way to stay at a healthy weight.
• They are enjoying new opportunities, big or small. Kids embrace simplicity; we tend to complicate matters.

Believe in yourself. Confidence, as you age, becomes an even more important trait.

Therefore, as well as doing some crossword puzzles, it’s just as important to be social. These past 1.5 years have been a challenge – so, going forward you must re-emerge socially to stay young in your mind.

Until next time

We all need time to rest and cherish life but if we stay in one place too long, we will start to feel a sense of lack.

Discover what makes you happy, feeling young, full of life, and go for it.

When life seems uncertain it’s a great time to embrace some normal everyday routines while changing up others.

Go ahead and play; slow down while taking those unexpected phone calls. I challenge you. Checkers have been a new routine on some evenings. It’s so much fun, and it can take a lot of in-the-moment concentration, conversation, and social skills. King me!

“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”

— John C. Maxwell

I’m writing this as a thank you note to my grandson for his many calls throughout our days and the lessons he keeps teaching me.

I also want to thank Trista Signe Ainsworth for her publication, Thank You Notes, which allows a place to share many heartfelt stories of gratitude.