Of Mindfulness and Melons.
Hi There,
The practice of mindfulness not only enhances one’s appreciation of everyday life, but it also allows for sharper focus, which leads to greater productivity. As a bonus, it mitigates stress and heightens overall health.
And yet, when I speak to clients about this mindset, many are fearful they don’t know how to “do it right”, or doubt they’ll have time to be mindful.
To assuage any trepidation, permit me to share an act of mindfulness that brought an everyday activity into the realm of the sublime. The task: preparing a cantaloupe for consumption.
You see, I’ve never given the cantaloupe much respect. I had bought one at the farmer’s market by default, but that’s a story for another time.
Even on my way home, I was berating myself for succumbing to social pressure. After all, I’d always thought of cantaloupes as a not-quite-ripe, flavorless, gritty fruit, served at “fancy functions” for aesthetic appeal. Cantaloupe is for rookies, so I thought until the next day, while preparing it for morning nourishment. I suddenly found each of my senses charmed by this unsung hero of melons.
If you’re confused by what cantaloupe has to do with mindfulness, the latter is the act of inviting your mind back to the present. You can practice mindfulness by connecting with your breath or one of your senses. In the case of the cantaloupe, an unintended mindful moment caught me by surprise as I admired the weight of the melon in my hands. It was large, and still heavy for its size.
I grabbed a spoon to gently peel away the seeds, catching the first scent of the fruit’s exquisite aroma— floral, fruity and a bit nutty. Then, I couldn’t help myself; I popped a portion into my mouth before I had even finished severing flesh from rind. That texture— WOW! Zero grittiness, and completely silken. Even its dimension of flavor and sweetness, still restrained by its cold temperature, could be anticipated, ready to "pop", like the flavors of ice cream do when it comes to room temperature.
Then, I found my mind wandering toward next week’s farm market. Will there be more cantaloupes, or will they have run their course for the season? WAIT! Inviting my mind back to the present, I enjoyed feeling the knife gliding effortlessly through the fruit. Mindfulness was reestablished!
Laser-focused, I spear the cubes with a toothpick. I feel the juice burst on my palate. I appreciate the mouthfeel as I chew. I focus on the lingering flavor, which remains for a substantial stretch after each bite. I intentionally enjoy the fruit as if it were the last of the season.
Cantaloupes may be gone for now, but the sensory encounters will be embroidered into my brain until their return next summer.
Sounds delicious? I invite you to incorporate all of your senses into seemingly mundane activities. Fulfillment can indeed be found in the most ordinary places.
Cheers!
-Deborah
Deborah Goldstein
DRIVEN Professionals / Forbes / Linkedin
info@drivenpros.com | LinkedIn
DRIVEN Professionals, 35 Adrienne Lane, Garrison, NY 10524