I have gotten so busy with work, life and other stuff, I sometimes lose touch with the important things. Last year I regularly visited a friend who was patient in hospice. Even though I had a long list of things to do, I turned off my phone and we talked about what was important in her life.
It’s not about the stuff
Her home and belongings were not the first thing on her list to discuss. It was about her life experiences, her art and family. She knew she could no longer enjoy the “stuff” she worked so hard to get and the “stuff” really didn’t matter to her in the end. She loved sharing memories of her family especially her sisters and nieces. Her photographs told a beautiful story of her life and I am glad she shared them with me.
The gift
I am very grateful to her for giving me an incredible gift. She also taught me without knowing, the art of being present.
Being present is being mindful and in the moment without any judgement or expectations. It’s not thinking about what’s next on your calendar or reading emails and Instagram posts while having dinner. Being present is mindfully doing just one thing at a time. We may think we are good at multi tasking but we really aren’t at all!
The perfect present
Folding origami is a beautiful way to be present. It takes complete concentration and mindfulness to fold successfully. My favorite origami design is a modular box by Tomoko Fuse. It takes 8 sheets of paper to complete and is sturdy enough to hold small gifts or candy. Not only do I benefit from the folding process but it also is the perfect gift! I’ve been folding and teaching these boxes for many years and they always fascinates me. If you would like to know how to fold the box, watch my youtube videos. Just click on this link for the box top and this one for the box bottom. They are little outdated and not the best quality but what you need to make the box is there.
Being present is the most generous gift you can give, especially to yourself. If you would like to schedule an origami class or folding group please contact me.