Continued from page 1
How do you respond when that initial flash appears? Do you get caught up in
excitement of it? Are you likely to share your enthusiasm in a way that is noisy—or are you more likely to watch in silence? What is your NATURAL TENDENCY?
In
name of freedom everywhere, I’d like to offer this tip to those who may be convinced that mindfulness requires silence: try making noise. And to those who are more likely to hoot and holler, here’s a suggestion: be quiet.
In other words, use fireworks as an opportunity to free yourself from your typical response pattern, and pay attention to
newness of it. After all, mindfulness starts when we notice something new. So, instead of focusing on always finding something to get excited about, try tweaking your own way of reacting. And then, watch THAT.
Start with
big, glorious displays in
night sky. Observe. Watch yourself. Do what you normally wouldn’t do.
Later, try
same thing with those mental fireworks. Observe. Watch yourself. Do what you normally wouldn’t do.
And celebrate your independence.

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches creative and powerful eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com.