Pic of the Week: Pumpkin, our cat

THE MINDFUL GALLERY'S PIC OF THE WEEK

Mindfulness in the eyes of Pumpkin

The mindful anchor in this photo: The cutest face I see nearly every day! Pumpkin, our cat.

(What is a mindful anchor? When we practice mindfulness it is all about having an anchor, noticing when we stray from it, coming back to it, and doing so over and over again. This is oftentimes the breath in sitting meditation, but it can be nearly any point of focus that allows us to find stillness and peace)     

And Now…onto Pumpkin (and pets in general)

Pets have a fantastic way of bringing your focus to them. Have you ever noticed that when you come home and see your pets, hardly any other thoughts bust in take you away from those few moments? I mean, LOOK at that face!! Animals are very good at being present, and they are great teachers for us. There is a great graphic novel called Guardians of Being by Eckhart Tolle that is a simply told story about how are pets help us be mindful. So the next time your with your pet or another's, take note of how you feel when you're with them and relish those moments with gratitude.