Coffee Contemplation: Now and Next Year
A simple reflection to ponder over your morning coffee.
Audio narration by David Marlow
Coffee contemplation:
If you think about it, everything was different at this time last year.
This time next year, everything will likely be different again.
I invite you to create a positive mental framework by considering two things…
☕️ What can I do to enjoy this moment this year?
☕️ What can I do today to enjoy this moment next year?
Now in the context of that framework go a little deeper.
🌟 Embrace the Beauty of Impermanence:
Seasons change and seeing them as seasons is a helpful way to think about the changes in our lives. The impermanence of life is what makes it so precious. As you enjoy this moment, reflect on the beauty of change and the growth it brings. What can you appreciate in the ever-shifting journey?
🌟 Planting Seeds for Tomorrow:
Each day is an opportunity to sow the seeds for a meaningful future. Consider a small step you can take today, something that may seem insignificant now but has the potential to blossom into something wonderful next year. It could be a new habit, a skill you want to develop, or nurturing a relationship. Plant these seeds with intention.
🌟 Cultivate Resilience:
Life's changes often bring challenges, but they also make us stronger and more adaptable. Reflect on a past change that initially seemed daunting but ultimately led to growth. How can you apply the lessons you've learned from past changes to navigate the uncertainties of the coming year with resilience and grace?
🌟 Discovering the Beauty of Now:
As you strive to enjoy this moment, consider the small details that often go unnoticed. Find joy in the simple pleasures of the present, whether it's the warmth of your morning coffee, the sound of birdsong, or the feeling of a gentle breeze. Cultivate a habit of mindfulness, and let the beauty of 'now' enrich your life.
Quest well!
I think you knew I would love this part, David:
"Reflect on a past change that initially seemed daunting but ultimately led to growth."
That is the essence of resilience - reflecting on where we've been and how we got through it, noticing where we are at present, and projecting confidence into the future knowing we can face it much the same way as we had.
Every day I recognize things I have in my favor today that would not have been if I had not planted a seed a year ago. So every day I look for ways to not squander the chance to sow something today.
I really focus on now; sometimes calling myself “painfully present”. I can access the past and can plan as an exercise or skill, but they’re just that, exercises. It’s interesting to put myself into your framework of contemplation. What I like about this is that my mental framework is about all and appreciation and calm and they create the reality of my working personality. I’m also super curious, so having your proposal of calm contemplation and curiosity about things I don’t think about, like the future, is an act of imagining and creating. It adds luminosity and wonder.