Before you read this sentence I doubt you were mindfully reflecting or feeling your own heartbeat.

It is one thing we rarely think about, yet it sustains us, marches us forward, and allows us to do all of the amazing things we do each day. It is the drum beat that we hear along our path.

A resting heart beat of a hummingbird is around 500 beats per minute. A blue whale has from 5-10 beats per minute. A human has between 60-70, on average.

How many are you aware of? Buddhist monk and activist Thich Nhat Hanh offers this perspective:

“Our hearts have been working day and night, pumping thousands of gallons of blood to nourish all the cells in our bodies and preserve our peace, and we know that if our hearts stop beating, we will die.But still, we do not take care of our hearts. We eat, drink, and work in ways that bring about tension and stress.

When we touch our hearts with mindfulness, we see clearly that a heart in good condition is an element of real peace and happiness, and we vow to live in a way that keeps our hearts in good condition.”

So now while you are aware of your heart, and feeling grateful for each beat, practice touching your heart with mindfulness:

  • What does it feel like to be your heart?
  • What does your heart need?
  • How do you keep your heart in good condition?
  • What sings to your heart?
  • What are things you keep close to your heart?

And of course, with each beat, say thank you.

 

 

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