Stopping Time

Nine months of 2009 are almost over...where did they go?
We all have the experience that the days, months, years rush by in a blur of activity.
 In the mad helter-skelter of 21st century urban existence, cellphones ringing, emails pinging, calendars screaming, to-do lists accusing, car rides,plane rides, bills and collection agencies......it all seems like a never-ending treadmill that eats up the days.
We wake up in the morning and hurtle into the day...rushing around physically and mentally all day...before we know it the day is over, we are exhausted and go to bed.
Thus we dissipate our most precious resource...the limited moments of our human existence. We lose our days.
What happened to living? To experiencing the joy of a cup of tea, a walk in the park, a sunset that we participate fully in, the laugh of a little child, looking a friend in the eye and sharing a soul-smile?
Awareness is the key.Throughout my day,in all my activities , I have the opportunity to stop time.
One moment , experienced with total awareness, can hold eternity.
Walking down the street, riding in a car, waiting in line...all opportunities to experience everything around me with my gut, rather than through the blurred filter of a ticker-tape mind.
All I do each day is shift into awareness as often as I can.
 I move away from the mind and into the solar plexus to experience my body, my breath and all around me directly and totally.
Time disappears...everyday reality is magical and awesome in its glory!
Every moment of such magic is a moment fully lived.
All I practice is increasing the moments of alert awareness ...so that less of my life is wasted in unconsciousness.
Infinity and eternity - right here and right now!