Iguazu Falls, Argentina. Circa 2010. And what does circa mean anyway....?
I've been trying hard to recognize and enjoy my moments of flow. I love this chart here that describes flow as "a state in which it feels like time stand still... you're so focused on what you're doing that you become one with your task. Nothing is distracting or competing for your focus."
I think of it as a moment when you are so totally involved in what you are doing that it's impossible to think of anything else. You are completely wrapped up in that moment and are able to be 100% present. You look around and all you want is that exact moment right there.
The funny thing about flow is that if you are trying to have it, you have a lot more of it. Say what?!? The more I focus on enjoying the moments that came to me and bask in it, the more I realize how many of those moments I have.
MY FLOW:
- Stepping outside during my lunch break one beautiful day last week. I took my lunch, my diet coke, and my book. I sat on the lawn next to my classroom for thirty minutes and just let that sun come down on me while I read my book uninterrupted. I wanted nothing else in life.
-Driving home from a Blogger Roundtable last week. I felt so lucky to know such incredible women and to have blogging as a way to cultivate lasting relationships. There are so many fabulous people out there to meet. (Aubrey recapped it here.) I drove home with the windows down and the music blasting and the night was so perfect. Almost a Perks of Being a Wallflower "We were infinite" moment. Almost.
- Playing Ticket to Ride with my mom and Greg last night- just the three of us. It's my mom's favorite game so if we have a few minutes on Sunday night I like to play it with her. We chatted for a long time before we even set the board up and I felt so totally blessed to be next to people I care so much about. It was one of those subtle moments of peace and tranquility and all things wonderful in this life.
- I took 112 students to see The Great Gatsby today. Greg came along for the ride. My favorite scene in the book is when Nick arranges a meeting between Daisy and Gatsby and Gatsby is a freaking ball of nerves waiting for Daisy to come over. The scene in the book is hilarious, and I was delighted the movie followed the text so closely. When Gatsby runs around the house and knocks on the door my students filled the theater with their laughter, and we all reveled in the moment together because we understood the colossal importance of that moment. (Because boy, did we study that book!) I sat there, surrounded by my favorite students and thought how incredibly blessed I have been to teach those tikes the past three years.
- Friday night I treated myself to a pedicure and had the nicest girl who did my toes up all nice and pretty. I sat back, let her massage those feet, and focused on nothing else but that exact moment. (Secret: If you constantly tell your pedi girl what a great masseuse she is she will massage you much longer and much better than normal.)
When were your moments of flow this week? Don't have any? Make a conscious effort to "flow" and I can bet you will be surprised with how often flow comes to you.. Do you think you can have five flow moments a week? Write them down when they come to you, and I guarantee you will be shocked at the sheer magnitude of your flow.
I am done being mini buddha now.
Over and out.
I just found your blog the other day and I'm so glad I did, I love this post!! Such a great reminder to always always always appreciate the little things. Last night, we celebrated my friends birthday. We just ate cake and watched a movie, but I had a little moment where I felt so blessed know such amazing people. It was crazy to think that a few months ago, we were strangers and now I can't imagine not knowing them. Okay, this is enough sap for a Monday haha. Hope you have a great day!
ReplyDelete:) Liz
Life By Liz
Liz thank you for this sincere comment! I think that too sometimes when I look at the friends that surround me... We were all once just strangers!
Deleteyes. i loved the roundtable and it was great. and i cant believe you took your students to see the great gatsby! that is so cool. what did you think of the movie? i loved it and most people who i have talked to, who have read the book, loved it too. but a lot of people who haven't read the book thought it was weird or bad. what did you think?
ReplyDeleteJen I loved having you at the roundtable! You are such a doll! I really liked parts of the movie... some scenes they followed exactly, including the text from the book and I loved that. They did take a few liberties that bothered me and I thought changed the meaning a bit. Leo was brilliant.
Deletehahaha! I use circa often even though I also have no clue what it really is. How cool is it that you can take your students to a movie? I know it's educational and all, but that would never fly here.
ReplyDeleteWhere is "here"? At the end of the school year it's definitely easier to plan "field trips" like this- especially since we studied the whole book it wasn't too difficult to justify.
DeleteI loved that scene in the great gatsby! And I will definitely be trying that tip next time I go get a pedi!
ReplyDeletexx
http://thattallgirlinheels.com
"Circa" is Latin for "around/about". :)
ReplyDeleteSo Flow is like mindfulness or being present in the moment, then? Sounds good. Mindfulness is something I'm working on through meditation.
Well there you go! Latin teacher to the rescue!
DeleteI like that idea of writing them down! So many of my flow moments have come at night driving with the windows down while a song plays on full blast. Just thinking about it makes me so happy.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Would you recommend reading the book before seeing Gatsby? I'm usually pretty strict on that sort of thing.
For someone who isn't a real strong reader I would suggest the movie first because the book moves slow enough they might quit first. For somebody who is a bit more literary I would suggest the book first because there is so much more to get from the book and the movie is just kind of back up.
DeleteDid you see the movie? What did you think?
It sounds like you're a really awesome teacher.. I would've loved going to see a movie like that when I was in high school. Watching it in the classroom just isn't the same (nor is it an option for this movie obviously).
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to live in the moment more often, and I completely agree that when you're trying for it, it ends up coming more naturally.
I totally had a moment like that at the movies with one of my teachers in high school and it was amazing. Props to you for being an awesome teacher. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I heard this saying years ago at a girls' camp, I think, and it has always stuck with me: Whatever you focus on expands. I've found that when I focus on the stressful things in my life they take over, but when I focus on the smaller things that make me happy, the other overwhelming stuff takes a backseat and I enjoy life way more. I guess that's how I find my flow. :)
I totally laughed out loud when you said "what does Circa mean anyway?" because I've wondered that myself. Add it to the ever growing list of things that I keep meaning to google but never get around to.
ReplyDeleteI knew The Great Gatsby was a "must see" when my husband came home from getting his hair cut and said that his barber saw it and plans on seeing it again. I feel like I need to re-read it first since it's been... oh, ya know... maybe 10 years?
Casey
Beauty 101
I got to take some students to see the movie too -- a little different number though ;). I wrote about it here: http://kelseylynae.blogspot.com/2013/05/gatsby-great.html
ReplyDeleteI thought that scene was also done very well, and we laughed too…and the kids were concerned about his white pants being all wet. ay-yi-yi. seniors.
I love flow days...just had one on Friday with our monthly Girls Night In. I themed it "April Showers bring May Flowers" and it was just a great night (will post soon).
ReplyDeleteI loved that scene too!!!! They did it perfectly!
ReplyDeleteAnd this weekend I had a lock-in to kick off the summer with the teenagers. (They get out of school crazy early here.) It was awesome sitting with those kids I've known for five years and they're going to be seniors next year. SENIORS! I can't believe it. Then there were a few other kids that I haven't seen in awhile who came and I loved catching up with them and it made me so happy. Such a great group.
That was my favorite scene as well! I am still so tickled by it!!
ReplyDeleteMy moment of flow this week actually doing dishes yesterday, while cooking, and singing (very, very, very) loudly to Disney songs that I had blasting. I was home alone, waiting for my husband to come home from work, and it was very de-stressing and relaxing.
ReplyDeletemorrellfairytale.blogspot.com
Those things sound so gorgeous!! I need to start enjoying those moments... still need to read the Great Gatsby though!!
ReplyDeleteAnna xo