Author: Jewel C

Color Walk? What’s that?

/ Jewel C / Leave a comment
Neighborhood rose bush 🧡

I went on a color walk this week. Have you done one yourself? This was my first one. I heard of the concept last week while cleaning and listening to The Today Show as it was on in the other room

The segment was called “Color walks: the new trend of combining exercise and mindfulness”, here’s the link for the full interview https://www.today.com/video/what-are-color-walks-and-what-are-the-wellness-benefits-229954117928

Basically, before you go on a walk you decide on a color and then actively look for that color as you walk. It promotes mindfulness during your walk, you’re more tuned in to your surroundings instead of your head being full of thoughts, or worries, and you focus more on the walk. Some may call it a form of walking meditation.

I found it exhilarating! From the picture above, I hope you could tell my color was Orange. I was pleasantly surprised to see these blooming and brilliant so early in the season. For a second I was overwhelmed with a mix of pure joy at finding them, and wonder at how lovely they are. It was a cathartic reaction I didn’t even know I needed. I resumed my walk hungrily looking to spot the next orange item. It became like a color coded scavenger hunt, full of discovery on a route I’ve walked hundreds of times but now was seeing with new eyes.

Pumpkins in February? Thank you!! Another orange item!

The color walk serves to blend exercise with mindfulness, and I enjoy that because I struggle with stationary forms of meditation. Sitting still with myself is frustrating for me (I’m sure there’s a lot that could be said about this 😁) and makes me antsy as I have a really hard time disconnecting from my intrusive reminders and wandering thoughts. Most meditative practices I’ve tried say you should briefly acknowledge the interruptions and then refocus, but I don’t or can’t and almost always feel more unsettled by the end of it . The color walk, in its own way, set an intention for me; the color, and having that focus made me really see my surroundings and enjoy the moment instead of just rushing the walk. My dog was a lot happier for it too 😀.

What do think? Have you tried a color walk? Will you?

Intentionality!?

/ Jewel C / Leave a comment

Intention….Be intentional…..”What’s your intention for the day?”………To be honest, most days, I really don’t know. Some mornings it’s as clear as crystal that my day is meant to revolve around FOCUS or BREATHE, but more often than not the amount of sleep I had the night prior, or the sheer length of my to-do list will eclipse my brain’s formulation of an intention.

intention – noun

what one intends to do or bring about; the object for which a prayer, mass or pious act is offered; a determination to act in a certain way – – – Miriam-Webster Dictionary.com

Does my struggle or inability to come up with an intention stem from some deeper subconscious reason? I hope to heck not!! I am old enough to understand now that some days I just don’t have it in me enough to care about an intention. Some days are all about getting it T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R before getting out the door, and by the time I remember to pause and think, the bulk of the day has passed.

There are those that would tell you to take that pause and reflect on the day so far and ask yourself what could you benefit from and set that as your intention. I think this is a valid resolution, if at that moment, you believe it’s needed. Most of the time though, I’m just living. Living in the moment, trying to stay on task to get to the next errand, the next to do on my list, the next project, all so I can feel productive at the end of my day. Could I benefit from setting an intention to work in cohort with my need for productivity? Possibly…but wouldn’t that require me to be intentional 🙂

I have, at times, been able to string together days of setting an intention, no more than a few days though. At one point, when I thought this was supposed to be “how it’s done” I was really bothered with my struggle to maintain this habit. Then, like I do with yoga (no judging😁), I admitted to myself that I’m not THAT person, and it’s okay.

If I do a brain dump in my journal before I go to bed, review my appointments and to-do lists for the next day and set an intention in advance, it works well! However, most nights I don’t do that, most nights I’d rather watch a bit of a show I’m catching up on, or read another few chapters before I nod off, or snuggle with my hubby for a bit before his body heat gets to be a little too much 🥵. Do I benefit from this advanced preparation YES, do I look back and think that my days ran more smoothly, FOR SURE. So why do I not do it more often?

As it turns out, I’m the type of person that may be incapable of setting an intention for my entire day, but I set intentions almost automatically in different parts of my life. Particularly when I am caring for, doing something for or to benefit a loved one. I don’t even have to focus on the intention (did you get the pun?🤪). I really enjoy looking after those that I love whether they be family or friends. Checking in on those I care about with a text, email or call, especially the older folk, they love catching up through conversation.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say, (and I’m definitely not an expert) for ME it’s OK to be intention-less. I’m not going to stress about it, in fact, I’m gonna embrace it! I know that when it counts, I can do it. I’m giving myself a pass on this one.

How about you? Can you set and maintain the habit of utilizing intentions each day, or most days, or do you pull them out for certain areas of your life?