subject: Experience Without Thought [print this page] Author: Rita Ballard, C.Ht. Author: Rita Ballard, C.Ht.
I caught myself not thinking the other day. Yes, NOT thinking; my mind may have been working, but I was not listening to any stream of conscious thought, like I usually am. We were on a leisurely drive to the mountains. Our destination was a place called Paradise Park in Mt. Rainier. It had been quite a while since wed been there, and I remembered it as an isolated but beautiful spot with a lodge, a gift shop, and a restaurant. Our previous trip to this popular ski and snow-fun spot was on a warm spring day. Today would prove to be different : It was the beginning of January winter time. The weather was typically rainy, with mild 45 degree temperatures during most of the drive. For almost an hour we enjoyed the beautiful country scenery. Once we passed through the gate at the entrance to the national park, the weather began to gradually change; winter set in before our eyes. We were in high country now! On one side of the road were forest and high, steep hills, and on the other, the dreaded sheer drop-off. It made me feel a little better that there were mountains of snow between the car and the drop-off, however. But for a few nail-biting minutes, my mind was filled with thoughts of disaster: cars skidding on ice, loss of control crashing and spinning across the narrow road. Yikes! I thought. Maybe this wasnt such a good idea. It really was quite scenic, pristine, and so still. The snow drifts rose higher and higher solid white, compact barriers on either side, protecting and cushioning the road and its occupants. What a sight it was! A winter wonderland, so different from the steady rain and moderate temperatures that wed just come from! I feasted on the sensory delights: The smell of the cold air, the crisp and slippery snow under my feet, the sounds of people enjoying themselves, the many colors of winter clothing. Inside the main building was like the inside of a bus or train station. There were people everywhere, some waiting in line for food, some taking off scarves, gloves, and hats, others going in and out of the bathrooms. People sat at little tables eating and talking. Some had brought their own food and were unpacking insulated lunch bags. It was pleasant pandemonium. My immediate reaction was, So this is what it feels like to be in the moment. We all experience being in the moment at different times throughout our lives, but what struck me was how I had failed to notice it this clearly, before. It was an AHA moment for me. During the time when I was taking it all in, really being with my surroundings without judgment and without a running stream of thought, I was stopping time. I was complete. I neither wanted nor needed anything more.
About the Author:
Rita Ballard, C.Ht. is a consulting hypnotist who has been showing people how to use the power of their own mind since 1997. Hypnosis is safe, easy and a great way to discover and tap into the internal resources available to everyone. Awareness Hypnosis - Expanding Individual Awareness in a Changing World. http://www.AwarenessHypnosis.com. 360-736-2000
