Living.

My 7 points of living

Mindfulness

  • n. The state or quality of being mindful; attention; needfulness; intention; purpose.
  • n. awareness
  • n. inclination to be mindful or aware

Mindful living has become a sort of catchphrase recently, with everyone from celebrities to your neighbor talking about it. I think for many people it is a state of awareness that doesn’t necessarily become important until major life events happen. More often than not, these life events are usually related to birth or death, which seems completely appropriate.

My foray into mindful living has been a slow process, beginning with a book called Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Dr. Christiane Northrup. The book led me to realize just how much my emotional health was connected to my physical health, especially in terms of my reproductive organs.

Over the years, learning about my personal reproductive health morphed into looking at the outside influences impacting my health as well. In particular, I began to realize just how much chemicals in common everyday products were impacting my body. This realization led me to begin finding natural alternatives for everything from fertilizer in the garden and the cleaning products in my home, to the products going on or in my body.

This journey has led me to a level of mindfulness that I now cherish. I’m not naturally bent that way so it is an ongoing process for sure. But it has led me to feeling better about myself than ever before and in setting up my own personal guidelines for living life.

These are the Seven Points of Living I strive to practice. I chose the word “practice” deliberately as life is about trying, which of course at times means failing. Ultimately though, this practice means finding the lessons in each success (and especially in each failure) and learning from those experiences…

Simple Living.  Returning to a simpler life where our focus is on nurturing relationships with each other and the earth. Produce as much as we can ourselves and when needed, make reasonable purchases based on beneficial intentions.

Natural Living.  Always looking for the natural alternative. Whatever we can’t grow or make ourselves is locally grown or produced, or at the least locally purchased.

Mindful Living.  Having an awareness and appreciation of each moment while being grateful to experience it. Removing the filters we have put in to place over the years to allow our eyes to soften and our ears to open.

Thoughtful Living.  Living life with intention and purpose while considering all angles with reason. Making the conscious decision to replace judgement and assumptions with empathy and questions.

Organic Living.  Growing, producing and purchasing organic and non-GMO vegetables, plants and products.

Viable Living.  Following sound life and business practices that are good for us, good for our community, and good for our environment.

Interconnected Living.  Maintaining awareness of how all life and beings are an integral part of this earth. Absorbing and sharing information & knowledge.