Each Monday, I would like to share a reminder about the importance of being mindful. These will come from literature, popular culture, music--anywhere one might get this sort of everyday life nudge.
"The Zebra Question"
I asked the zebra
Are you black with white stripes?
Or white with black stripes?
And the zebra asked me,
Or you good with bad habits?
Or are you bad with good habits?
Are you noisy with quiet times?
Or are you quiet with noisy times?
Are you happy with some sad days?
Or are you sad with some happy days?
Are you neat with some sloppy ways?
Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?
And on and on and on and on
And on and on he went.
I'll never ask a zebra
About stripes
Again.
Shel Silverstein
A Light in the Attic
I love Shel Silverstein's work--his children's books, like The Giving Tree, the songs he's written, like "A Boy Named Sue," but I especially love his poetry. I can't specifically say that this is my favorite or even among my favorites, because I truly enjoy just about every poem I've read of his. This poem, however, is a great reminder of the importance of being introspective, self-aware, and self-accepting. One focus of making mindfulness in everyday life is to live more in tune with yourself, your mind, your body, and your reality. If you can contemplate the answers to these questions, you may just be on your way. Plus, the poem is fun!
Labels: Mindful Mondays
