There is nothing more peaceful than watching snow drift gently down from the sky.  Each snowflake is unique, inspiring wonder about the cause and effect of everything around us.

Science is fascinating.  Science combined with medicine and the human body is even more fascinating.  Imagine being fully conscious as you go in for an operation.  This was what I experienced earlier this week.  Let me explain.

I had eye surgery a few days ago.  This was my first experience of a surgical procedure to correct my vision.  Over the past year, a haze from unknown sources had grown over my left eye.  The wait time for surgery was six months but because my vision had deteriorated rapidly, my case was expedited to stand-by late last week.

Surgery day came quickly and I am now 4 days into recovery.  I can now look back on my experiences and reflect objectively, noting what I did that was helpful and what was not.

The most helpful thing I did was maintain a positive attitude and open mind.  Mindfulness created the space I needed to be fully present without judgement.  Mindfulness allowed me to maintain a calm state of awareness and be an objective observer of the realities in each moment.

Surprisingly, there was no pain during the entire procedure aside from the minor discomfort I felt when local anesthetics were instilled into my eye.  Intently aware of the absence of pain, I kept my mind in a place of peace and my body calm.  There was no discomfort after the surgery either and I was fine at least until the next day when post-surgery medications brought intense pain to my eye.  That was when I mindlessly fell into the least helpful thing I did, which was allow myself to spiral downwards into emotional distress and worry.

The new anti-inflamatory eye drops caused sharp pain when instilled and worsened my vision.  I worried about irreversible damage and the possibility of complications.  My mind and heart were now racing.  Awareness of this was the turning point for bringing myself back to a state of inner calm.

I took a few deep breaths and focused on relaxing my body and letting worrisome thoughts go.  As my heart rate slowed and the tension in my head dissolved, I came to realize there was no more pain.  My mind and body were now back in peaceful harmony.  Resting here, I waited patiently for insights on what to do next.  I went to the phone and spoke to several health professionals, made an appointment with the doctor who performed the surgery, and subsequently discovered that discomfort with those particular drops is normal.  As for my blurred vision, the doctor explained that my eye was like a snow globe with floating particles when shaken up.  He recommended that I keep my head erect as much as possible to help the recovery process.

Now when I look out the window, it doesn’t matter whether there is a cloud in the sky or not.  It is snowing beautiful glorious snow.  I am watching snow drifting down right before my eyes as I rest in deep gratitude for the miracles of mindfulness!

For tips on mindfulness, visit my other blog at http://www.mindmastertraining.ca starting January 2014.

Who wants to be more miserable in life?  Apparently more people than you think.  The Vancouver Public Library recently hosted a 90 minute presentation on the topic.  Guess how many people attended. 13?  27?  52? 116? 183.5?  200?  or more??!  What do you think?

My estimate is 200 or more.  It was a packed house and many had arrived early to ensure a good seat.  Imagine that!  You may think it unusual for people to be excited about misery but we humans are a highly complex species not easily understood.

While waiting for the session to begin, we were asked to fill out an optional questionnaire, listing 3 things we could do to increase misery in our personal life.  These strategies had to be something within our control.  The presenter stated he was collecting responses for a future book he plans to write.

While pondering this question, I noticed much laughter and conversation in the room.  It appeared that this group had a lot of work to do to become more miserable!  At that moment, a well-dressed woman with crutches and only one leg entered the room.  An elderly woman offered her seat in the front row.  “No, thank you” insisted the one-legged woman as she made her way back to a seat she eyed in the second row, four chairs in from where I sat.  She flashed me a pleasant smile as I pulled my legs and body back to make room for her.  A companion followed right behind and quickly placed a cushion on her friend’s chair.  I mused at the sight of the puffy red cushion and thought it would be a good strategy for increasing happiness, not to mention comfort!

All around me, people engaged in spirited chatter.  Strangers struck up conversations with others who sat in front, behind and beside them.  Apparently people were greatly amused by the subject.  I contributed my thoughts to the conversations around me.  My strategies for increasing misery were: #1 Hang out with grumpy people.  #2 Neglect my personal needs.  #3 I can’t remember at this time, but I am sure it will come to me!

As you may have guessed, the presentation was really about how to be more happy in life.  It was confusing to experience this backwards approach to the subject.  My brain felt blocked at times, like it had been turned upside down and immersed in a cloudy solution that impaired my mind’s ability to process information.  In reality, reverse thinking is actually very good for our brain.  It clears old cobwebs and powers up neurotransmitters for those snappy synapses to fire into action!  Oh, it seems to be working now.  I recall my third strategy for increasing misery, which is to isolate myself.

According to the presenter, the top three ways to increase misery are:   #1 Perceive yourself as not good enough.  #2  Allow your emotions rule.  #3 Be like everyone else.  There you have it.  Any day that you are feeling a little bit too cheery, try one of these strategies or create your own and see what happens.  I suspect laughter will arise from this experiment.  Live life backwards for a refreshing approach to happiness!

If you are a regular visitor to this blog, you already know that one of my favourite activities is cycling through the forest.  The fresh scent of pine and endless varieties of vegetation comprise one of mother natures’ grandest gardens.  Ferns, mosses, and wild mushrooms of all shapes and sizes spew forth from rocky cliffs, steep hillsides and lofty trees towering overhead.  This luscious landscape is truly one of the most magnificent and magical on our planet.

Maneuvering my bike through endless trails is an exhilarating experience, especially when the path is littered with hazards leading to surprising drop-offs.  Total focus is necessary if I am to complete the ride intact.  No longer a carefree young person who believes she is invincible, I carefully make my way down the path with nervous trepidation.

Embarking on challenges like this is no different than striving for personal growth in other areas of life.  It takes a certain amount of confidence to endure tasks beyond ones comfort level.  Where does confidence come from when one feels they do not have enough courage within?  The answer is from others.

Enlisting the support of another can be worth its weight in gold.  My son, a more skilled rider than I, accompanied me on this ride.  He provided me with the support I needed to complete the journey successfully.  Timely riding tips and warnings of upcoming hazards helped me to prepare myself for what lay ahead.  In addition, he alerted wildlife of our presence.  Thankfully there were no hungry looking carnivores on this trek!

Personal growth requires a certain amount risk.  Know that stretching yourself does not need to be a solo journey.  In fact, having a support person can enhance the experience significantly.  As 1930’s explorer Everett Ruess once said, “A true companion halves the misery and doubles the joys.”  It is true.  Growing through life can be easier and more fun when accompanied by another who is ready to cheer you on and celebrate each small success along the way.

We emerged from the trail with smiles on our faces.  I felt euphoric over my accomplishment, with only a spattering of mud and tiny black bugs on my jacket.  I looked back to the forest and noticed a sign that said “No trespassing”.  Oops!  There were no signs at the start of the trail, which brings me to yet another life lesson.  Hindsight is always 20/20, revealing a new and different perspective seldom anticipated.  Glance back in life from time to time to reap those lessons and commit to your journey forward, as that is where your own true magnificence awaits!

Imagine an orchestra playing a  magnificent symphony.  Imagine this orchestra being your brain!  You may have heard that we have a left brain and a right brain.  Each allows us to think in different ways.  The left brain supports linear thinking and logic while the right brain supports abstract thinking and infinite possibilities.  Both offer a significant piece to the grand symphony of our mind!

Recently, a sculptural artist approached me and asked how he could explore the depths of his creativity without losing himself to his project.  After hours of creating, he shared that he sometimes feels dazed and unsure how to transition back to reality.  Too much abstract thinking can transport a person to another realm without realizing it.  How can one stay grounded while delving deeply into the wells of creativity?  The answer is through mindfulness.

Mindfulness brings awareness to the realities of the current moment.  As an artist accesses the depths of their right brain, they also need to maintain connection with their left brain.  Being human involves physical limitations as our body signals fatigue and the need for rest.  Conversely, being creative involves no limitations and requires left brain thinking for continued wellness, especially during creative spurts.  A symphony of the mind occurs when both right and left brain work together to yield a “mind-blowing” performance like no other.  No pun intended!

It was  midnight when I was awakened by rustling sounds outside my open bedroom window.  I immediately thought it was a racoon but the heavy breathing suggested otherwise.  I peered out to see a very large black animal lumbering down my garden steps.  It appeared massive as it crossed below me and emitted a distinct odour from the wild.  I shivered at the sight of him and felt immensely grateful that I was safe, two stories above.

Mr. Bear was on a mission, foraging for food no doubt.  Finding none in my back yard, he attempted to climb over my fence to continue his quest.  His immense size made it difficult for him to scramble over.  Instead of gaining altitude, he pulled my fence back and forth until it began to wobble like an ever-expanding rubber band.  Of course, this didn’t last long.  It was just a matter of time before this once solid structure came crashing down.  I’m sure I heard him grunt “Onward Ho!” in a very deep voice as he trampled onwards into my neighbour’s yard.  No fence was going to stop him from getting to his next meal.

The fence was merely a hindrance for him, just another obstacle in his day.  He perceived no limits with what I perceived as a solid barrier.  How many times in life have you held limiting beliefs, seeing no way out of a predicament.  Mr. Bear shows us that when there is a will, there is a way.  What may seem impossible may indeed be possible, if we open our mind to it.  Albert Einstein once said “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”  Let go of what you do know and imagine the possibilities.  Just like Mr. Bear, you will get your cake and eat it too!