Being Mindful of Sharks

I went on a dive today where you scuba with sharks. It is a fun thing to do, a very touristy setup, and a little cheesy, but the experience of seeing so many sharks in the wild so close is fantastic. I am slightly more mindful than a person who doesn't practice but am nowhere near a monk status.

What I noticed about the human behavior was once we had seen the sharks for about 20 minutes, people started taking videos of one another, and as soon as the sharks left, they scrambled for shark teeth.

The magic was still ALL around them, but the novelty had diminished somewhat in the desire for a souvenir.

There is nothing right or wrong about their behavior or mine; it is just different.

The divers lost the experience of breathing and being with the sharks to get the perfect video, selfie, or tooth.

How often do we miss what is going on around us?

How often do we question ourselves and slow down? Seldom.

You could be swimming with a dozen sharks and have missed the whole thing trying to feed your nervous system and the demands you have on yourself.

You need the perfect shot; you need to have a video worth showing your friends. You need the tooth for your kid you did not bring.

Seriously how incredible is it to be able to pay and swim with sharks?

I purchased the videographer's video.

I am supporting him and his family by doing so.

I also did not worry about the pictures because he is the expert and trying to dive, watch sharks and manage a camera; I was not going to do one of these things well.

It also allowed me to breathe and notice and wonder.

How much of your life are you missing because you daydream, replay events over in your mind adnasium, or numb out?

It is human nature to move on to something else when our nervous systems are the driving force. Taking control of your nervous system is the real challenge.

If this is you and you would like to switch to being more mindful, more present, more alive within, call me.

Consultations are always free.