The Stillness Between

The budding of the peony.

I take a moment to appreciate.

Seeing the swelling of the bud.

Hearing the sounds of nature.

Feeling the cool air, as I meditate.

Experiencing the stillness between me and the bud.

Most of us move through life quickly. Our attention is often pulled towards the next task, the next message, the next responsibility, the next urgency. Even when we stop to look at something beautiful, our minds can be busy commenting on it, analysing it, or thinking about what comes next.

Mindfulness invites us into a different way of experiencing life.

Rather than thinking about the peony, I simply allow myself to experience it.

The shape of the bud.

The gentle movement and the coolness of the breeze.

At the same time, I hear the birdsong around me and the distant sounds of the world.

Seeing.

Hearing.

Feeling.

Nothing special, nothing complicated.

Just life unfolding through the senses.

And as my attention settles into these experiences, there is less doing and more being. The constant activity of the mind softens a little. For a few moments, there is no need to improve the experience, capture it, or even understand it.

There is simply awareness and what is being experienced.

The peony remains a peony.

There is a quiet stillness.

And the sense of separateness melts away.

Mindfulness is often described as a way to reduce stress or become more present. While these benefits are valuable, I believe there is something deeper available to us. A chance to touch into the source of our experience, the simple awareness that is always present beneath the busyness of everyday life.

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Bob Chiang is a mindfulness coach and teacher.

If you’d like support in bringing more moments of clarity and stillness into your daily life, you can get in touch at: contact@mindfulnessskills.com