By Human beings tend toward ritual, even if it is in an informal manner. Take for instance the morning coffee. There is a precise manner and order for arriving at a delicious, hot cup of coffee. For me, that ritual begins after my morning ablution.
And, because I’m owned by two cats, it includes their morning treat time too. For me, this looks something like:
- Put down a handful of treats for the kitties
- Fill the kettle
- Put the kettle on the burner and turn it on high.
- Rinse out the French Press and fill it with hot water
- **go do other morning ritual stuff while the water heats**
- Measure out beans into the grinder
- Grind
- Dump water out of French Press and add grounds
- Fill with water
- Let it brew
- Press
- Pour
- Savor
Most of this I do most mornings without really thinking about it. That’s part of the purpose of ritual, I suppose, to make things easy to do through repetition. But there is something very rewarding that comes when you narrow your focus, when you keep your mind and attention on what your hands are doing, rather than letting your mind wander off into the day ahead.
We all have little rituals, whether it’s making the coffee or the order in which we get dressed/undressed, or the way we get ready to leave the house or go to bed. Today, pick one of your daily rituals and be present in the motions, in the steps you take. Keep your thoughts centered on what you are doing and why. Make it purposeful and deliberate.
Either way, I hope your coffee is tasty, your day filled with kindness and your ritual fulfilling. I love you, Readers!
Photo by Rachel Brenner on Unsplash
Natalie J Case 