how to be aware in an unaware world

Tag: mindfulness

Music
I read this local quote once in a local magazine about a local Nashville band that I can locally recall to this day:

“It makes me claustrophobic to think about music that doesn’t move.”

Music is an experience that takes us to places we can touch, taste, see, and most especially, hear.

Every time we listen to the sound of music, whether through headphones or speakers, in a studio, or in the elevator, it affects how we think and feel.

There is a real, tangible reaction in our minds to the sounds around us, especially well organized sounds (or music).

More remembered is the music that really moves us, sinks deep into our soul like a heavy weight cast into the sea, sinking quickly to the bottom of the ocean floor.

For example, a song that moves is A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cook and the story behind the song displayed persuasively in the movie One Night in Miami.

Music is a journey that evolves with time. Don’t some songs just bring you back in time? Flooding your mind with memories when you listened to it growing up?

In this there is almost a rediscovery of the song. Maybe the lyrics mean more now, or an instrument comes through more. Whatever it is, hold on to it, write it down, voice record your interpretation.

Another song that hits me is Fix You by Coldplay. It’s such a simple and short song, but yet so impactful.

There’s been thousands of people singing along to that song at one moment or another and then there’s me, with the floodgates open, alone in my bedroom at one moment and at a 65,000 attendee concert in Atlanta, Georgia at another.

I also remember biking back from work in Nashville at 11 at night, the yellow traffic light flashing and Yellow by Coldplay softly playing in my ears.

Music has such an amazing ability to pull back the veil of time and reveal a different you during a different place and time.

The other incredible thing about music is it’s universal, it connects people all around the world from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures. A single song, like Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) by Shakira that played at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Though I may not know the words to Tuyo by Rodrigo Amarante, I still feel the message permeate every time I watch the intro to Narcos on Netflix.

Music is also one of the most subjective experiences in life, what one person may love, another just can’t stand listening to and vice versa.

Developing a sense of openness towards music will find yourself open to so much more in life, crossing mental boundaries and kindling friendships.

I’m not into screamo or hard metal music at all, but I went to see a band called AFI with a friend once and it was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had at a live concert.

I think the accolade that defines a musician more than anything in the world is an album. A good album is well constructed and conveys the artist’s message in an eloquent and beautiful or honest way.

Of all my years listening to hundreds of albums by all kinds of artists, these are my personal favorites:
1. In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson
2. A Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay
3. Currents by Tame Impala
4. Room For Squares by John Mayer
5. Freudian by Daniel Caesar
6. Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
7. Legend by Bob Marley & The Wailers
8. Lost In The Dream by The War On Drugs
9. Conjure by Elliot Root
10. Fuzzybrain by Dayglow
I encourage you (as I encourage myself) to look back on your musical journey.

What music makes you move and why? How does the music you listen to affect you?

Being mindful about what we listen to can change entirely the way we feel.

Five More Things:
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September 13, 2023
Nature
Impermanence: noun: the state or fact of lasting for only a limited period of time: “He describes the impermanence of nature’s existence.”
As I was walking through the apartment complex I called home back in Nashville, I noticed with a strange intensity a tree that stood at the back of the apartment. For some time, I sat and stared up at the large oak.
I noticed how the steadfast tree was the perfect example of impermanence.
It rarely moves or falters. Its branches sway and fall, but its trunk stays grounded. Its leaves change color through the seasons and fall softly to cover the ground beneath it, but return again vibrant in the spring. Heavy winds strike its body, but its roots reach deep and wide, holding it steady.
I also noticed the change in my own life, moving seven times in five years, and now to the place I was in then, which was the most comfortable and enjoyable place I had ever lived. I had been so caught in rumination at one moment and then calm and content at another.
Constant changes in nature remind us to step back, letting all things take their course.
And all things live in unison too. Giving, taking, destroying, building, hurting, healing. All things die to provide life (and death) again. Trillions of times a second. It’s as if nature is telling us to create balance and to admire that balance all the while it occurs.
Our admiration of this world sets us apart from all other creatures, plants, and microorganisms. It is an incredible gift to be aware of admiration.
Changes in nature also remind us of an infinite cycle. Plants and animals, bacteria and viruses, all live in accordance with their nature. A symbiotic relationship between every living thing.
Changes in one thing affect everything. The wind, for example, affects the bees mating, the birds nesting, and the trees’ strength. It affects that monsoon that was supposed to go south or the fire that was supposed to go east. It affects us from doing stuff or going places.
The natural world and the human-made world are woven together like an intricate rug. Remembering this daily comes with great appreciation and joy.
When we slow down, step back, and observe these two worlds around us, it opens up the sense of wonder that every child possesses.
Nature’s impermanence is beautifully captured in the steadfastness of a tree. It serves as a reminder that all things change and evolve, yet maintain a certain balance.
The profound interconnectedness of all living beings and their symbiotic relationship is highlighted. Changes in one aspect can have a ripple effect on everything else.
By slowing down and observing the natural world and our surroundings, we can rediscover a sense of wonder and appreciation.
I encourage you (as I encourage myself) to take some time today to explore your immediate environment.
Look for nature in unexpected places, like a bird, a bee, the wind softly against your skin, a striking sunset, a drop of rain, or a steadfast tree.
Take a moment to reflect on the concept of impermanence and how it manifests in your own life.
Three more things:
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September 12, 2023
Nutrition
I’ve heard it said before that good nutrition can be summed up in seven simple words: Eat real food, mostly vegetables, in moderation.
Mindfulness reminds us to pause and pay more attention to what we put in our bodies.
Try spending your meal away from any screens, books, or even calls to fully experience the simple act of eating. Focus on how the food tastes, how it looks, the texture, and quality as you eat.
Being more mindful about what, how much, and even when you eat and drink goes a long way. This is purposeful, passive consumption rather than an inexpressive, impassive one.
Mindful eating has the power to change the things you eat too, thus replacing common unhealthy items with more nutritional ones.
When we are distracted while we eat, there is a much greater chance that we notice less of the nutritional content of the food and therefore eat less nutritional items.
Below are a few nutrition tips and tricks that could further help out:
Moderation is Key
Alvise “Luigi” Cornaro, an Italian nobleman living in the early 15^th Century, lived to be 102 at a time when the average life expectancy was 35.
Cornaro was told by physicians early in his life to abandon overindulgence for strict moderation in the amount and type of food he ate.
Having listened to his doctors, Cornaro writes what changed in a journal entry:
I accustomed myself to the habit of never fully satisfying my appetite, either with eating or drinking — always leaving the table well able to take more. In this, I acted according to the proverb: “Not to satiate one’s self with food is the science of health.”
Moderation extends life expectancy by up-regulating autophagy, which is another way of saying it accelerates the body’s natural process of removing the cellular debris that causes disease.
A variant of this is intermittent fasting, which consists of periodically fasting for 16-24 hours.
Cornaro wrote that each person should experiment for themself which foods and drinks and in what quantities agreed with him or her.
Maybe moderation can work for your lifestyle, maybe not, but it never hurts to try, as Coronado puts it, “leaving the table well able to take more”.
Collagen
Collagen is a unique, sticky, fibrous protein that prevents the skin, joints, and organs from sagging, collagen is mostly found in skin, bones, cartilage, and fascia (a tissue that surrounds muscles).
Consuming a large amount of collagen has numerous benefits:
– Increases our skin’s elasticity levels, contributing to that famous “younger looking skin” especially in women.
– Improves joint function
– Enhances muscle size, strength, and control, especially in men.
– Protects the liver from the effects of alcohol.
Collagen can be consumed in two ways: by slow-simmering an animal’s carcass, eating any meat cartilage, or the more popular way of drinking hydrolyzed collagen powder.
Either way is effective and supplies the body with a good amount of collagen. I personally take 2 tablespoons of collagen powder with 4 tablespoons of protein powder each morning.
Anti-inflammatory Foods
This consists of a diet rich in vegetables — especially dark-colored greens like broccoli and cabbage — as well as Omega 3 rich foods like fish, egg yolks, and grass-fed meats.
It also consists of specific spices and herbs that on am ounce-per-ounce basis are very potent compared with other foods, for example:
– Just half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon has as many antioxidants as half a cup of blueberries!
– And just half a teaspoon of dried oregano has the antioxidant power of 3 cups of raw spinach!
The three famous inflammation crushers include:
– Turmeric: Turmeric is an essential spice, add it to salad dressings, meat or fish marinades, or a cup of warm tea. Take it with black pepper to increase its bioavailability.
– Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne Pepper, which contains capsaicin, a compound responsible for the spice’s spicy taste. Make sure to add spices only after the food is fully cooked and ready to eat as the spice will lose its potency when added during cooking.
– Ginger: Ginger is a spice that’s been used for hundreds of years to pacify sore muscles, throats, aches and fatigue. Add it to a warm cup of tea, chew on ginger candy, or just eat it raw if that’s your thing.
Many foods incite inflammation and many chronic diseases result from inflammation. Keeping inflammation in check allows us to achieve optimal functioning, immunity, energy, and mental clarity.
Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 is a very important vitamin that activates a protein called MGP or Matrix Gla Protein. MGP essentially helps our body absorb calcium from the foods we eat and then move that calcium from our bloodstream into our bones. MGP is found in a number of body tissues and is present in our bones, cartilage, heart, and kidney.
Vitamin K2 also helps keep our arteries flexible for proper blood flow and supports that blood flow to the brain. Vitamin K2 is found in high amounts in foods like egg yolks and full-fat cheese as well as D3+K2 Supplements.
Vitamin Q
Vitamin Q, otherwise known as Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 is a component found in every cell in the human body. Our body naturally produces it and uses it to provide the energy our cells need for growth.
CoQ10 also seems to lower cholesterol levels by acting as an antioxidant, removing harmful molecules from the body.
After taking a CoQ10 supplement found at any local drug store, the body feels lighter and will be able to handle more damage.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts and the oil it produces have a high concentration of monounsaturated fats and oleic acid that also help promote HDL Cholesterol.
Coconut Oil
Lastly, coconut oil is another incredible way to maintain weight. It’s antimicrobial, antihistamine, and antidiabetic. It’s also a way healthier way to fry food.
Research was taken from naturalhealthresponse.com and the book Secrets of Underground Medicine by Health Sense Publishing
Five more things on Nutrition:
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September 11, 2023