Should we always be looking where we're going?

We're told from the time we could walk, 'Look where you're going'. I'm wondering out loud, is that actually true?

It's a beautiful day here in central Maryland, 60 degrees and sunny in January. A perfect day to go on a walk, have a glass of wine & lunch outside OR..much less excitingly, take down holiday decorations. LAME. So here I am on this gorgeous day, at the edge of a mulched flower bed, in our front yard eyeing up a wreath that Wauker so lovingly put up a month ago. Now I'm cursing this wreath because now I have to navigate the minefield that is the flower bed. I'm talking dog poop EVERYWHERE. Now listen, I know what you're thinking.....GROSS, WHY IS YOUR LAWN A DUMPING GROUND?! But in our defense, until recently we lived in Baltimore city where we had to pick up poop constantly, and walk around with the little baggie until we could find somewhere to dispose of it, every day, a few times of day -- so yes, since moving to the county, we've gotten lax. Sue us.

ANYWAYS, as I was saying. There I am teetering from foot to foot through shrubbery - keeping my eye on the prize AND simultaneously trying not to ruin my fashion sneaks when a thought arises! AHA. One of the good thoughts, the kind that even Headspace would agree, don't let this one float away. If I let go of looking where I'm going and instead look where I am, I can more successfully avoid total disaster. So I did. I settled into each step, carefully, calmly and patiently. Because, after all my heart knew where I was heading, I didn't need to focus so intensely on it. Momentarily I let go of the destination & just focused on the moments in between.

So have we had it all wrong? We've been so busy looking where we are going, that we've completely missed the bits in between and often as a result....stepped in a pile of sh*t!

Think of the times when you've been in the moment, in the flow - isn't it amazing how incredibly effective you were? How much easier is it to keep our balance when we are present? So I'm offering an alternative option - look around at where we are. Take notice, pay attention, smell the roses, put up a thought of gratefulness, let go of our death grip of 'the destination' and just let the path unfold.