In the footsteps of Tich Nhat Hanh.
It is proved that if you smile it makes you happier and you also influence the people around you. You get a friendly smile from somebody and you feel better. We can’t solve all our problems, but at least give a smile to make the world brighter.
I felt so happy to see all the people coming to our programme weekend. We were from different ages, backgrounds and countries. People, who want to take a break from their daily life, try to be mindful and meeting new people. For me living in the here and now is also difficult, but it really felt easier on this weekend. Together we experienced meditation in a sitting, walking and dancing way. We went to the sea and made our footsteps into the sand to say: I am here and want to give the prints in the sand to the ocean and the universe. We thought about inspiring things, we draw them and learned more about each other. We cooked together and we ate together in silence, which was quite difficult for some of us, but I experienced it also as very helpful to enjoy the food more and recognizing when you are full. We sang together. Because we liked it so much we were singing one whole morning. Music form Tich Nhat Hanh, but also pop songs and the one and only dutch song: Het is de nacht!
We discovered the trees in the beautiful garden of the monastery, without our visual sense, with trusting each other. We heard the bells from the monastery and they were our Mindful bells, we stopped doing what we were busy with and took a deep breath- a moment for ourselves to focus on the here and now.
Thank you all for this weekend. Even when I was in charge for parts of the programme, I didn’t felt pressured and could be aware of myself and my surroundings in lots of moments.
Thank you all for sharing experiences with each other, to listen and to give good words to the others.
Thank you for drinking tea together, smiling at each other and doing tasks with your full heart.
For me it was a successful weekend, with lots of good things and very nice people. I would always like to experience being mindful with you again!
With much Love,
Antonia
The present moment is full with joy and happiness- if you are attentive you will see it.
- Tich Nhat Hanh
