Food for Hearts!

Autumn Mist

Discussing mindfulness in our daily lives with a friend last night we thought about the impact of the onset of dark mornings, early nights, dampness and all the changes that Autumn brings. How it can seem gloomy working in a room that needs lights on during the day.

I was reminded that we need different food. Food for the intellect, which we get from  'lifelong learning', reading, conversation. Food for the body, healthy eating and physical exercise. But that we also need food for the heart, that which motivates, sustains our values, enables us to live with equanimity, strong enough to deal with the difficult and painful, open enough to appreciate beauty, kindness and our interconnectedness with all life.

Later with my partner, we talked about the space meditation gives us, not to solve problems or 'think' things through (though that is of course possible), but to give us the ability to 'quiet' the turmoil we constantly have in our minds.

I thought of both discussions while walking this morning. It started in rain, ended in bright sunshine. The autumnal colours, deep reds, rich oranges,  young swans still with adolescent plumage flying overhead, the sound of twigs snapping, the smell of wet leaves. Difficult to think of work, issues etc when using all our senses, engaging fully with the life around us. Also how important it is to have friends, family or colleagues that help us engage fully, feed our heart connection. In Africa a common greeting is 'What does your heart say today'?

What is your heart saying to you?