As I Ponder

Melbourne is an iconic city, it has a unique feel about it as you meander through old and new, quaint and modern, it has a buzz and a quietness to it, the sound of trams and the busyness of the city is somewhat confronting at times, but also if you allow yourself space to just ponder, to just be, I realise how grateful I am to have had the experience of living in this city.

As I made my way to my tram stop from the train, it is a difficult walk to get myself there, one day a man spoke to me and said, 'I applaud your determination', he clearly could see my struggle to move and acknowledged this in his quick conversation, I was taken back and it was a fleeting moment of time but such a poignant comment on how others see you.

The trams in Melbourne are delightful!

I very much tune in to my environment, I make a conscious effort to not just have my head in my phone, watching another snapshot of someone else's life, mindlessly scrolling through posts and I make the time to just be in my surroundings, I notice my body as it feels, and I take my seat, relieved I found one, I often find myself tucking myself in to be smaller, to not be conspicuous, resting my hands on my legs, I feel the swelling, the enlarged limbs, the constant discomfort, but I also notice others staring at me, and wonder what they think, I sit confidently focussing on the trees that line the street, the bells of the tram dinging and I also find this strong resolve to celebrate my body, to appreciate what it carries and to not allow myself to buy into what I am assuming others are thinking and become mindful that what matters.... is me, how I proceed to be in my day, to connect, to bring all that I am to those that cross my path.

The Power of Connection

Moments that have embed in my mind as I make my way to work is a woman sharing her umbrella with me, as it began to rain, under that umbrella was a quick but valuable conversation of connection, beautiful moments that are so often missed, becoming conscious of these interactions is so poignant in a time that we so often are disconnected, we leave these moments and continue our day.

Last night I could see an image in the window of a man with writing on his t-shirt, as I stood in the tram with my aching body, I focussed on trying to read it backwards, it said 'I am not a robot' , I smiled and thought that was such a valid statement in what ever context and he was making a subtle, but bold statement, I love those silent signs that get you thinking.

Mindful Melbourne

My short ten-minute tram ride prepares me enormously for the day ahead. As I step off, I pass through a familiar laneway with its own rhythm, three restaurants side by side, Italian, Japanese, and Thai. Each with its own sounds, aromas, and sense of belonging, I always think to myself I am going to stop here and have a meal one day. The staff greet me as they prepare for the day, music fills the air, and I feel part of something living and breathing and I continue to ponder in my own zone.

The beautiful spring tree views of the city :)

A Gentle Challenge

So, how do you ponder the fleeting moments in your day?

To truly notice them, you need to create space, no phone, no distractions, just you. That quiet space is magical. It’s where you reconnect with yourself, where you rediscover parts of who you are that might have been lost in the noise of daily life and happenings.

When you find that space, that inner stillness, ask yourself - What does it feel like to simply be? What thoughts cross your mind? How are you feeling when in this zone?

In coaching, we call this mindfulness. It’s not about anyone else. It’s about coming home to yourself.

In today’s world, we often fill our time with busyness and social media, unaware of how it steals our sense of purpose and identity. But to truly thrive, the most important relationship you can nurture is the one you have with yourself.

Our lymphatic disorder can so often feel encompassing and it is vital to find that balance in all areas of our health, mindfulness is one pillar of health that is often so dismissed.

I hope this blog post reminds you of this!

If you’re beginning to focus on this, I applaud you. Because YOU MATTER!

'Explore what matters, living your life, loving your lymph'

J