For this practice you will need a glass,
Cup,
Or bottle of water.
You can do this on your own or with someone else.
We will be taking time to really notice what it's like to drink water and slow the experience down a little bit.
We will grow our appreciation and interest in something so simple that we usually don't pay much attention to.
We will reflect on how important water is in our lives.
Settle yourself in a comfortable position with your glass or bottle of water in front of you.
Take a deep breath in and out.
Feel your body sitting down and notice the contact your body is making with whatever you are sitting on.
Look at the water in front of you.
Notice the size of the container,
Its shape,
And texture.
If your container is transparent and you can see the water,
Notice what the water looks like.
Do you feel thirsty?
If so,
What does that feel like?
And if you don't,
What does not feeling thirsty feel like?
Before you pick up your container of water,
Reflect on where this water came from.
Was it from the store?
From your kitchen faucet?
And where did it come from before that?
The city water supply?
A natural spring?
An underground water aquifer?
And where did this water come from before that?
The snow melt from high in the mountains?
Rainfall from clouds forming over far away oceans?
Appreciate what a long and distant journey the water made to come to you.
And how much work other people did to collect it,
Purify it,
And transport it to you.
Can you look at the water and see the rain that made it possible?
The snow?
The clouds?
The people and technology?
Look with your eyes of mindfulness that can see below the surface of things.
Now hold the container of water in both of your hands.
You can close your eyes if this helps you to concentrate.
Notice the temperature of the water.
Is it cold,
Room temperature,
Or warm?
Is what you're holding heavy or light?
What else do you notice about the container?
Now still with your eyes closed,
Carefully bring the container to your lips and slowly take a sip of water.
What does it taste like?
How do you know it's water and not something else?
How does it feel in your mouth?
How does it feel to swallow it?
Can you feel the water traveling down your throat and into your stomach?
What does it feel like there?
Cool,
Warm,
Full,
Empty,
Or something else?
Try to notice as many things as you can as you drink the water.
Can you taste the rain,
Clouds,
And snow?
Notice that as humans,
70% of our body is water.
Without water,
We could not live.
Water helps all the functions of our body happen,
Like the circulation of blood,
The digestion of our food,
Even our breathing relies on having enough water.
Take a deep breath in and out and enjoy drinking this precious gift of life.
As you drink,
See that the water is also you,
Because without it,
You could not live.
As you drink,
The water is becoming a part of you.
It is going to become part of every cell of your body.
Feel the connection between the water outside you and the water inside you.
Thank the water for being part of you and keeping you alive.
As you drink mindfully and recognize that the water is also you,
You might also feel the wish to protect water from pollution and other kinds of harm.
Reflect on what you can do to protect our water and keep it pure so that it can continue to give you and all other beings life.
Take a few moments now to simply be with the water you are drinking.
Good job!
You have just practiced mindfully drinking water.
You can practice to drink other beverages in the same way,
Slowly and with appreciation,
Reflecting on where they came from and how they were made.
It is a simple and easy way to experience gratitude and grow your happiness and also strengthen your connection with all of life.
I hope you continue to enjoy drinking mindfully today.
