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MINDFULNESS WITH EVERY STEP

FINDING HAPPINESS IN ORDINARY MOMENTS

Writer Sophia Quzi practices Raj Yoga and teaches mindful meditation. She is an Ayurveda massage thera-
pist and training to be an Ayurvedic Nutrition Consultant and Practitioner. “I have always had a heart full
of grace and compassion toward all that is." Find her on Facebook
The magic in the extraordinariness When discussing a topic like this it naturally propels our in-
is wreathed through ordinary life, stincts to make an attempt to revisit the old questions, “What
look deep. is the purpose of life?” and “Why are we here?” To some, life
is defined by their religion. Some feel life is most meaningful
Being ordinary has a different when they are attaining financial success, and to some, life
meaning to different people. is all about raising children and making a home that is full of
Our cultural contexts shape love, and remaining immortal in the memories of the next
us from day one. From the generation. One thing I have realized is that human beings
moment we are born we are are very fearful of having an ordinary life and being ordinary.
bombarded with notions of being Everyone is striving to achieve something bigger and better -
better, being unique, striving to achieve something greater, to have an extraordinary life. But we forget that the genesis of
surpassing ourselves, trying to be someone who is other than extraordinariness comes from a very ordinary state. Most fa-
us. Doesn’t that say more about our culture than it does about mous people on earth at some point were ordinary, and there
our individual abilities to pursue happiness? What happened to is nothing wrong with not wanting more; nothing wrong with
the notion “be just who you are”? We seemingly live in a world being happy in having an average life, with an average income
where people and situations tell us otherwise. They may say and living in an average neighborhood.
that it’s not ok to be average if you are not working towards
having a better situation, but that is based on whatever their I have found that if I allow my mind to move inwards more
idea of a ‘better situation’ is, isn’t it? Perhaps it is just some- instead of constantly outward, comparing and competing with
thing others say because they cannot achieve their goals; even others, I can create more peace and balance in my life. The
if you are happy they will suggest that you are delusional and moment I think that I am extraordinary, my ordinary surround-
only fooling yourself. ings do not feel worthy anymore. Who wants a lifetime of feel-
ing like that? Years back I used to believe that what is common
and ordinary was the least exciting part of life. I used to look
for excitement in everything that is extreme or ‘extraordinary’
like watching television for hours, listening to gossip, eating
at nice restaurants, shopping, and so on. I’m not saying these
are bad things, however I feel that while we are looking for
external stimulation to make us happy we have to keep a track
of what we are thinking about also.

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