Tomorrow is mother's day. As a mom, I love the concept- a day to be appreciated and pampered, allowed to sleep in and not have to cook or clean. A designated day, to remind all who benefit from a mom's efforts to stop and say thank you.

But it's not enough. A day is not enough for any of us- Mother's day, Father's day, Grandparent's day, Administrative Assistant's day, Boss's day, Teacher appreciation day (or week).  Why do we need a designated day for appreciation when all of us work hard every single day to do what we do, to fulfill the roles we assume? 

What would the world be like if we took the 2 seconds to sincerely thank each person who did things for us as we moved through our days?  What if everyone received the appreciation they deserved every day, if we each took the time to see each other as human beings, recognizing that all of us are doing the best we can in this world with what life has handed us?  Would we all feel more appreciated?  More recognized and valued by those we touch? More seen?
If we each expressed gratitude to others 10% more each day, what would that do for us as a society? 

The amazing news is that when we express gratitude for and to others, WE feel happier. WE feel more optimistic about our lives. And of course, we build better relationships with those to whom we express that gratitude.  It just takes a bit of awareness, noticing those who do the things for us we often take for granted. And maybe a little more energy. But what we get in return far outweighs the expenditure.

You can only control your own actions, but your actions can make a difference.

Life is a series of moments, and we travel our lives through these moments, whether we are aware of them or not.  
And then they are gone.
Blink.
There goes another one.
Did you miss it?

• The pure joy on your daughter's face as she sprints off to hunt eggs.
• The first sip of delightfully warm coffee in the morning.
• The sweet fragrance of spring's first blossoms.
• The silly bounciness of a new puppy. 
• A thoughtful gesture made by your spouse.
• The tight squeeze of a child's warm embrace.
• The special effort to spell your name correctly made by the barista.
• A compliment given to you by your colleague after completion of a big project.
• The tiny detail that would have clinched the deal.

How many of life's individual moments are missed when our minds are elsewhere? And if we were to add up those missed moments, how much of the richness of our experience would be lacking?  How much more full and satisfying would life be if we could appreciate the individual moments as they are happening? 

When we need to pay attention, mindfulness helps us be attentive.
When we want to notice the beautiful moments of life, mindfulness helps us really see them.
When we promise to be present for the details of our day, mindfulness helps us keep that commitment. 

Let's see how many more moments you can spot.
Blink.
There goes another one.
Did you see it?

Over the years, I wrote occasional blog posts about my personal journey and my ongoing path towards becoming a mindfulness teacher.  I housed those on my personal blog, Mindful Clarity.   From here on, posts will be housed here, on the Institute for Mindful Works blog. My intention is to invite all of our teachers and partners to write, providing a variety of viewpoints and topics.
Here also we'll post links to articles written by us elsewhere on the web. 
We hope you enjoy, learn and connect. 
Christy