Mindfulness and Marriage: Moving Along

Marriage has to be the greatest opportunity for mindfulness on the planet.

I used to think that parenting took top honors, but really, a good marriage lasts a lot longer than a good childhood. After all, the kids do move out eventually, but the spouse stays.

Never the type to do things half-heartedly, my husband and I up the ante when it comes to spending time together. We have breakfast together. We ride to work together. We work all day together. We ride home together. We eat dinner together. We go to bed together.

This could be a recipe for disaster, but instead, we think it's the coolest thing ever, and we never take that for granted.

With all that proximity, we have learned tremendous patience and we've got a killer sense of humor. This means that even in our snarkiest moments, we know we will find a reason to crack up about it later.

In fact, some of our favorite stories are about moments of extreme mindlessness, and if truth be told, I tend to be the mindless one.

I know, I know. I'm supposed to be the mindfulness expert. Well, as I always insist, you can't be mindful of everything AT ONCE, right?

So, here is my favorite mindless moment--and what I learned from it....

While moving from Oregon to Montana several years ago, my husband was driving the U-Haul packed with all of our worldly possessions. Inside the cab of the truck with him was our second daughter, Tara, and our hyperactive yellow Lab, Thor. Meanwhile, I was driving behind him in the car with the other three daughters.

Hours passed. I obediently followed behind him, despite the fact that driving behind a big truck is, well, annoying. So, when we finally got to the mountain pass and the U-Haul was chugging along at 30 miles per hour, I felt it would be just fine if I passed him and made my way to Missoula. I figured I'd get to the new house first and get ready for the move-in.

I sailed happily along Montana highways (no posted speed limit), smiling to myself, excited to be heading to our new home. In fact, so thrilled was I that I didn't even stop to think that maybe Tom wasn't behind me. What could go wrong?

Well, everything. Unbeknownst to me, the truck's axle had broken, leaving Tom and Tara and Thor stranded along the road miles behind me. He tried to call me on my cell phone, but so blissful was I that I had, ahem, turned off my phone. They ended up hitching a ride in the filthy cab of a junk-hauling pick- up with three other people (hyper dog included) for over an hour to stay at a hotel (hyper dog included) until the next day when the truck was repaired.

Needless to say, I got an earful when we were all reunited in Missoula. I felt terrible, and yet I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of them stranded in Idaho with our out-of-control dog yanking our daughter hither and yon while Tom is calling my cell phone repeatedly.

Fortunately, Tom and Tara laughed about it too--eventually. What did I learn?

? It is possible to be mindless and happy at the same time.

? It is not possible to hear your cell phone when it is turned off.

? Be wary of U-Haul's promised "Adventure In Moving"...

? Stay connected, stay connected, stay connected.

? Sometimes it's better to go slowly, even if you're stuck behind a truck.

? Make sure you are married to someone who can laugh with you instead of holding a grudge.

? Mindless moments can lead to mindfulness.

? Marriage can make you more mindful--especially if you stick with it for twenty years.

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.massageyourmind.com

best value cleaning service Lincolnshire ..
In The News:

Smart home hacking fears overblown? Expert reveals real cybersecurity risks and simple protection tips to keep your connected devices safe from hackers.
MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.
The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.
Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.
Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.
Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.
Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.
Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.
Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.
Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.
Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.
New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.
Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.
Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.
Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.
Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.

Wedding Receiving Line Etiquette?Greeting Your Guests with Style

Even though it's a great tradition with a long history,... Read More

Wedding Videos... What To Do

Bless the bride... and God help the video maker. True.... Read More

Wedding Favor Creator

Wedding favors have always been a nice, personal gesture to... Read More

How to Write a Love Letter

Let's talk about writing love letters.Not candy coated pap. Not... Read More

Have a Garden Theme Dream Wedding

You've found the perfect venue: old oaks, a stone wall,... Read More

Engagement Party Ideas To Wow The Crowd!

He's proposed, and most likely you're flashing your new engagement... Read More

Riding into the Sunset in Style

Details, details, details. Paying attention to details, that's what makes... Read More

How to Nurture Intimacy When Youre in a Long-Distance Marriage

The biggest problem long-distance spouses often face is how to... Read More

Prenuptial Agreements

"Til death do us part" is still the language used... Read More

Negotiation Strategies Especially for Couples

These guidelines will help you avoid the three most common... Read More

Fiji Honeymoon Vacations

If you are looking forward to a vacation of attractive... Read More

Help Your Marriage Survive The Rough Spots

Every marriage has its ups and downs, its rough periods.... Read More

The Planning of a Bridal Shower!

Planning a bridal shower? Maybe a dear friend or even... Read More

Conquer the Five Most Common Fears About Your Wedding Ceremony

It's safe to say that of all the important events... Read More

Wedding Planning -- Staying Within Your Wedding Budget

Planning and organizing a wedding budget can greatly reduce the... Read More

Top 40 Marriage Quotations

"Is it better for a woman to marry a man... Read More

Create A Beautifull Wedding Album With A Simple And Fun Way

Hi If you are getting married or have a Bar... Read More

Las Vegas Casino Weddings

If you are at all familiar with Las Vegas, you... Read More

What You Should Look For In A Professional Wedding DJ

When planning your event you should go with the most... Read More

Organizing The Wedding Menu

Deciding the menu is a pretty simple affair. Once you've... Read More

Wedding Music

What should you "walk down the aisle" to? Should you... Read More

The Wedding Guests Guide to A Stress Free and Fun Wedding

Most brides become obsessed with throwing the perfect wedding. The... Read More

How to Choose the Perfect Headpiece and Veil for Your Facial and Body Features

All brides want to be beautiful on their wedding day,... Read More

Do We Still Need Wedding Traditions?

Traditionally at weddings the speechs are made after the wedding... Read More

Traditional Bridal Shower Gifts

The tradition of hosting a bridal shower for the bride... Read More

high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..