The Present: A Gift to Yourself

Holidays are a great opportunity to slow down, to take some time out. It is a chance to try new things and visit new places.

Once at our holiday destination no transport was used. Walking is a great way to slow down and take notice of ordinary life going on around you. Thanks to an app, we discovered that we walked on average about 6km a day. This is far more walking than I would do at home. At first my legs did not like the change, but after a few days the aches were gone and I was enjoying navigating my way around the ancient and modern parts of Edinburgh. I have promised myself that walking is going to be more of a habit now we are home. The distances have not been so significant, but choosing to walk is slowly becoming more of a habit. It has made me more aware of the environment I am travelling in and given me a greater appreciation of my feet and legs!!

Walking is a great way of people-watching in a city and listening into conversation. For fun I decided to listen out for snatches of conversation and record them. The process of slowing down, of listening out and looking around inspires creativity. It increases an awareness of others which in turn develops empathy and compassion.

The choice to be more aware of the present moment is available at any time. It is not just for holidays. Taking a moment to stop and use a different sense is relaxing. Somehow it brings both focus and a sense of appreciation for the more ordinary things in life. It doesn’t require a great deal of time, but choosing to be present, to observe, listen, smell, touch or taste can change our perspective. Moments can be savoured or pass us by. Our choices and attitude determine which will happen more often. If you’re asking yourself when? The answer is now. Stop and be still, just for a moment. What can you hear, see, feel, smell or even taste that makes you glad to be alive right now?

Just for fun, I decided to compile the sentences that I recorded when I was out listening on the streets of Edinburgh. They appear in their sentences exactly how I heard them, but each new line represents a different snippet of conversation. I have imagined a conversation between two people:

You’re looking very fit

What did you do with your bag?

I forget. I don’t know.

It’s got your name on it you prick

Do you want to walk up through the graveyard?

I just don’t want to be seen in public with you

What’s wrong?

I used the baked bean tin with the string to murder someone

Ooh dear

It’s Keith. No one’s going to run me over

I’m sure we can figure it out

A lot of girls do

She swore after the first one that she wouldn’t do it again, but she did

We were talking about strangers

I’ve never asked you what your PHD project is about

I’m only here for three days

Perfect

It’s eight o’clock

I can recommend a show

He doesn’t think he’ll make it through the show without a beer

They’ve been on the road for two months now

Anything interesting happen?

Mushrooms, ham, olives

She knows

Jealous? I just can’t feel like that.

I heard her say that.

She’s got about four GCSE’s

Why is she paid so much?

I agree, it looks bad

We’ll start a revolution.

Full face masks

Oh, is that how it works?

I’m not allowed to tell you why that will be important later

That was amazing

You’ve got to get your timing right