What's Next?

I continue to search for ways to be healthy beyond just food and exercise.  I believe strongly in the power of thoughts: the power of healthy thoughts and unhealthy thoughts. This mindfulness strategy has greatly improved my overall happiness in all daily tasks, from the really challenging ones to the mundane.  I call it "What's Next?" 

I was hiking through the Valley Forge part a few weeks ago with my heavy pack.  Up and over Mt. Misery, of all places.  Post-cancer and chemotherapy, this kind of cardio workout was very difficult for me.  I found my mind wandering to all kinds of things that I should be doing to help myself get better. The internal dialogue sounded like this: "I should do more legs in the gym.  I should go to the gym today. No, I went yesterday, I should stay home and do push-ups...yada, yada, yada....  And then I said, "STOP".

"Right now Holly, you are climbing this hill.  Just climb this hill.  Only think about climbing this hill. One step, two steps, breath in, breath out. Nice view, pretty trees, etc..."  And when it's over, ask... "What's Next?"

Even when I wash dishes.  I only think about washing the dishes.  My mind tries to race back to what happened earlier, or to what needs to be done later.  But I come back to the task at hand.  When I'm finished with the dishes. I take a good proper moment to say to myeself,  "What's Next?"  It feels like a good way to say farewell to one thing and acknowledge the next thing.  It keeps me more present. 

Being present is the greatest human challenge and it is the fastest way to peace and happiness.  It is both our superpower and our curse that our minds can review the past and plan for the future.  At times, we get caught up in trying to plan for all conceivable futures, which is a task that has no end and serves us no good.  Just like washing dishes, this task should be finite and done purposefully.

"What's Next?"

"I'll plan for dinner." 

Can you just do that? Can you plan for dinner without worrying about the future of sustainable agriculture?  

There are set times to do things, like wash dishes, brush your teeth, sleep.  There is also a set time to think about things.  This includes, remembering, planning, worrying.  And then you stop and say,  "What's Next?"

Ask yourself, is now the time I should be trying to solve this problem?  Am I being present for the task at hand?

And try ushering one task into the next with the question. "What's Next?"