Leslie Davis writes, “On a recent personal retreat, I hiked into Horn Canyon in the east end of Ojai, California. Due to the severe drought, it had been years since water had flowed alongside the trail there, but now I was delighted to cross the creek a few times, jumping from rock to rock.

My mind was clear and focused, taking in the sounds and smells of the trail — glistening poison oak, fragrant sage, infinite wildflowers… With the warm sun on my back, I felt fully alive in the present moment. Such a wonderful gift to be alive! To be awake!

On the way back through the canyon, though, my mind jumped ahead of my body: it was busy planning out what I would do as soon as I got back. First a snack, then another writing session, or maybe both at the same time, then a hot shower. And what would I have for dinner?

Many minutes would pass before I noticed this. How many footsteps did my feet take while my mind carried me away? And how many times in any given day does this occur, or even in just an afternoon? And what can bring us back to the present moment? How can we return to what’s at hand — the conversation we’re having, the child in front of us, the trail we’re walking?

The mind can go and go without us noticing how fast it’s going, or what direction it’s headed in. Then, suddenly, a thought jumps out at us, and we trip, or stumble, or burn something on the stovetop. And just like that we’re reminded to pay attention. This is where a little magic happens.

In that moment we can bring our attention back to our breath. We can reconnect with ourselves, our spirits, and our awareness of where we are — right here, right now.

FULL STORY by LESLIE DAVIS, via MINDFUL.ORG