Patty Mayeux Blog

Another ELAN Principle is “Observe Your World.” It is “Stop and smell the roses,” amplified; a practice of deep seeing, deep listening, deep connections and deep feelings. It is a walking, active meditation in which one gives in to the moment at hand, releasing worries for the future or regrets about the past. Pay attention to little gifts and joys and beauties; listen for birdsong or notice the brilliance of a new bloom. Silence your own thoughts while a loved one is talking, bravely diving below the surface to truly connect. The deeps can be scary. It’s much easier to give in to the pull of anxious worries, holding on to a sense of keeping one’s head above water. The shallows seem safer, where one can live in a carefully curated world of images flashing on a screen. The slightest ripple will expose them as illusions, mere reflections on the surface. But look at that new bloom peeking at the coming spring. Hear the joy of birds who have no care for our complicated world. Bask in the warmth of a child’s embrace. Wonders and miracles abound. Notice the beauties of the deep and watch them multiply.