Village of Scarpia in Valle d’Otro, Alagna Valsesia, Piemonte, Italy

 

How many times do we just STOP?

Really stop?

Stop and breathe, deeply.

Really open our eyes and take in what we can see around us. Smell the air, hear the faraway sounds. Feel the temperature on the hairs of our skin. Feel our physical presence in this moment. Be, fully, really truly, in this moment. Feeling this snapshot of aliveness.

I rarely feel as present and grounded and in my body as I do when I am in my favorite place in the whole world: Valle d’Otro in Piemonte in the Italian alps (more on this magical place in future posts). Here Time slows down and right now, as I write these words, it has stood still. I am in complete Stillness and it is deeply healing.

The only sounds in this moment are the faraway gurgling of the river’s running water and distant waterfalls. Continuous soothing vibration, caressing my ears and finally calming my nervous system deeply. I can feel my whole body slowing down, my active ‘monkey’ mind finally coming to a standstill, in awe of this moment.

My breathing has naturally become deeper and slower, and it as if I am being cradled by my own breath and Being. Embraced by my Soul. And I feel myself opening up and falling in love with nature and my True Nature all over again…

I am in love with this Moment Right Now and this brings tears of gratitude to my eyes. In love with the pure simplicity of this moment, with no need of anything, fully content with things exactly as they are.

TRY IT:

Whatever is going on for you right now, whatever the circumstances or place you find yourself in, this Universal Stillness is available to you if you wish to access it. Simply Stop. For real. Put everything away: phones, to do lists etc. Breathe, deeply, slowing down the outbreath. Fully observe the world around you with all your senses, noticing and letting go of the background analysis and judgment that your mind will naturally want to engage with. And just take it all in, the sights, sounds, smells, touch, as if experiencing it for the first time, like a small child.

Here in this place, in this fleeting second, you will find your true freedom. And the more often you taste this, the easier it will be to drop into this state, at will.