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This precious Present

Christmas is nearly upon us and the air seems to be alive with excitement and anticipation. Gifts will soon be exchanged. But for me, there is one gift that is way more important than any other. This precious Present. 

What do I mean? In other words this moment of time. Or the ‘Now’ – as it’s sometimes called. This is the cornerstone of mindfulness. 

The beauty of this practise, is it can be done literally anywhere. Whether you’re opening presents, eating Christmas lunch, or out walking. And it enhances your enjoyment tenfold – as well as reducing those stressful moments.

All you need to do is become aware of what is happening in this present moment. Feel the wrapping paper in your fingers. Notice your breath as you’re making the Christmas gravy. Taste those Brussels sprouts (and perhaps spit it out – if you’re like me!) and that rich, red wine. Focus on your feet as well as your breath on your Boxing Day walk.

And if you forget all of that just take three conscious breaths. This will help calm the mind down and interrupt those thoughts before getting carried away by them.

Happy Christmas everybody, and if you can, remember the best gift of all. This precious Present.
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