BE THERE!

When asked by a newspaper reporter to explain his theory of relativity for the public, Albert Einstein replied that one minute a man spends kissing his girlfriend will pass much faster than if he had to spend the same length of time sitting atop a hot stove. 

We have all had experiences that have proven Einstein's theory to be accurate. When we are doing something we enjoy, we experience time distortion. Time seems to pass quickly. Conversely, when engaged in something we don't particularly care for, time is definitely distorted in that even ten minutes can feel like hours! How then can we use Einstein's theory to our advantage? One way is through practicing and cultivating mindfulness. Mindfulness is simply being totally present in what you are doing. It's when we are truly absorbed in what we're doing, in the moment, time seems to pass quickly. Suppose you must wash dishes and you never like washing dishes. Apply mindfulness.  Be totally in the experience. Tell yourself, "for the next fifteen minutes I'm going to wash the dishes. There is no other place I need to be, nothing else I need to be doing right now." Then as you turn on the water to begin, direct your attention to what you can hear at that moment while washing dishes, i.e. the sound of the water running, water splashing in the sink, squeaky sound of a clean plate, sound of your breathing, etc. Next, focus your attention on what you can feel, i.e. the temperature of the water, smooth silky feeling of a clean plate, the texture of the dish cloth and the dish washing liquid, the soap bubbles, etc. Then shift your attention to what you see, i.e. the colors reflected in the soap bubbles, the change in appearance of your hands the longer they are in the water, a glistening clean plate, etc. Continue to redirect your attention to what you can see, hear and feel in the moment. This mindfulness approach places and keeps us in the present moment. When truly in the present moment, time feels like it passes ever so much more quickly. Apply these simple principles of mindfulness in everything you do. Start simple, but start. Your joy for life, even when engaged in unpleasant responsibilities, will steadily increase. The Rock band 'The Who' stated it simply this way, "No matter where you go, there you are." Be where you are, absorbed fully in the moment. Unpleasant or dreaded activities will become more tolerable and then actually pleasant. Originally pleasant activities will become even more rich and enjoyable.  Where are you right now? BE THERE!